Argentina Natural Honey Export Market -- HS Code 040900 Trade Data & Price Trend (Jan 2025)

Argentina Natural Honey Export (HS 040900) Key Takeaways

Argentina's Natural Honey exports under HS Code 040900 in January 2025 were dominated by bulk-grade honey (98% of volume), priced at $4.51/kg, with niche premium variants offering higher margins. The market opened strong at $21.27 million, reflecting seasonal harvest momentum and stable demand. The U.S. absorbed over half of exports, while Germany and Switzerland formed a high-yield European cluster. This analysis, covering January 2025, is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Natural Honey Export (HS 040900) Background

What is HS Code 040900?

HS Code 040900 refers to natural honey, a globally traded agricultural product valued for its use in food, beverages, and health-related industries. Its demand remains stable due to consumer preferences for natural sweeteners and its applications in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. As a perishable commodity, quality and origin significantly influence market dynamics.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Global honey markets face pressure from fluctuating production yields and shifting trade policies, though no specific trade news or policy announcements have recently impacted Argentina's natural honey exports. Argentina is a key supplier, leveraging its vast agricultural land and favorable climate to maintain competitive export volumes. Monitoring hs code 040900 trade data is critical to anticipate price shifts and demand trends, particularly as Argentina consolidates its position in major markets like the EU and North America. Vigilance remains essential to navigate potential supply chain disruptions or regulatory changes.

Argentina Natural Honey Export (HS 040900) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Natural Honey export trend for January 2025 opened with a total value of 21.27 million USD, at a unit price of $4.53 per kilogram.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The hs code 040900 value trend in January sets a strong baseline, likely driven by seasonal harvest cycles that peak during the Southern Hemisphere summer, boosting supply for global markets. Without notable trade shifts, this momentum may reflect sustained international demand and competitive pricing amid stable economic conditions.

Argentina Natural Honey Export (HS 040900) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

Argentina's export of natural honey under HS Code 040900 in January 2025 is heavily concentrated in a single sub-code, 04090000911 for natural honey, which accounts for over 98% of the value and weight shipped. According to yTrade data, this sub-code trades at a unit price of 4.51 USD per kilogram, significantly lower than other variants, indicating a focus on bulk, commodity-grade honey that dominates the market structure.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining exports are split between two sub-codes, 04090000190 and 04090000999, both for natural honey but with higher unit prices of 6.57 and 5.99 USD per kilogram, suggesting a niche for premium or specialty grades. This structure points to a trade primarily in fungible bulk commodities, with a minor segment for differentiated, higher-value products, reflecting variations in quality or processing rather than distinct value-add stages.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, the dominance of bulk honey under Argentina's HS Code 040900 export limits overall pricing power, as it ties closely to commodity indices, while the premium segments offer opportunities for differentiation. Suppliers should focus on cost efficiency for the bulk market and quality enhancement for niche exports to capture better margins.

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Argentina Natural Honey Export (HS 040900) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

The United States was the dominant destination for Argentina's Natural Honey exports in January 2025. It accounted for over half of the total export value (53.94%) and weight (51.72%). The value share slightly exceeds the weight share, pointing to consistent demand for Argentina's honey, with shipments likely including a mix of standard and higher-grade varieties. The high frequency of shipments (48.24% of total) also suggests a steady, regular trade flow to meet ongoing demand.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The data reveals two primary clusters among the top destinations. A High-Yield Cluster includes Germany and Switzerland. Germany holds a 17.14% value share against a 17.28% weight share, while Switzerland has a 6.02% value share against a 6.65% weight share. Their nearly balanced profiles indicate these are stable, established markets for quality honey. A Volume/Hub Cluster includes Spain, Belgium, Colombia, and Japan. Spain and Belgium show strong volume and value figures, likely acting as key distribution hubs within Europe for onward movement. Japan shows a notably high frequency of shipments (3.87%) relative to its volume share (1.80%), indicating a pattern of smaller, more frequent orders.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

The export profile for Argentina's Natural Honey is healthy, led by a strong and stable relationship with the US market. The strategy should focus on maintaining this volume while exploring opportunities to increase the value share within the High-Yield Cluster of European partners. This could involve promoting certified organic or monofloral varieties to command higher prices. No specific trade news or policy was provided that would alter this outlook for January 2025.

Table: Argentina Natural Honey (HS 040900) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Natural Honey Market Operation and Expansion

• Use hs code 040900 trade data to segment shipments by unit price, targeting buyers in Germany and Switzerland with premium, certified honey to capitalize on their stable demand for higher-value products and increase the overall margin of the Argentina Natural Honey Export.
• Analyze shipment frequency from the hs code 040900 trade data to align production and logistics cycles with the high-volume, regular orders from the US, ensuring supply chain reliability for this dominant market and securing its long-term stability.
• Map the Natural Honey supply chain for volume hub destinations like Spain and Belgium to identify and partner with key distributors, optimizing logistics to reduce costs and improve delivery efficiency for bulk shipments.
• Develop a targeted strategy to shift a portion of the Argentina Natural Honey Export volume from the standard bulk commodity into the differentiated premium sub-codes, using quality certifications to build a more resilient pricing model less dependent on volatile commodity indices.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Natural Honey Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Natural Honey Export 2025 January?

Argentina's Natural Honey exports in January 2025 are driven by seasonal harvest cycles, boosting supply for global markets. The strong baseline value of 21.27 million USD reflects sustained demand and competitive pricing amid stable economic conditions.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Natural Honey (HS Code 040900) 2025 January?

The United States dominates, accounting for 53.94% of export value, followed by Germany (17.14%) and Switzerland (6.02%). These markets represent stable demand for Argentina’s honey.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Argentina Natural Honey Export?

Price differences stem from product specialization—bulk honey (sub-code 04090000911) trades at $4.51/kg, while premium grades (04090000190 and 04090000999) command $6.57/kg and $5.99/kg, respectively.

Q4. What should exporters in Argentina focus on in the current Natural Honey export market?

Exporters should prioritize cost efficiency for bulk honey while enhancing quality for niche markets (e.g., certified organic or monofloral varieties) to capture higher margins, especially in high-yield European markets.

Q5. What does this Argentina Natural Honey export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

Buyers in the U.S. benefit from steady supply, while those in Germany and Switzerland can access premium grades. Hub markets like Spain and Belgium facilitate efficient distribution within Europe.

Q6. How is Natural Honey typically used in this trade flow?

Argentina’s honey exports are primarily bulk-grade for commodity use, with a smaller share of premium-grade honey likely destined for specialty food or health markets.