Argentina Soybean Oilcake Export Market -- HS Code 230400 Trade Data & Price Trend (Feb 2025)

Argentina Soybean Oilcake Export (HS 230400) Key Takeaways

Argentina's Soybean oilcake exports under HS code 230400 in February 2025 reveal a bulk-dominated trade, with 99% of shipments being standard-grade oilcake priced at $0.68/kg, while a niche premium variant commands $0.89/kg. Export value dipped slightly to $1.73B despite a marginal price increase, signaling volume-driven softness in demand. Vietnam dominates as the top buyer, absorbing 26% of shipments, followed by Ecuador and Indonesia, reinforcing Asia's role as a bulk-processing hub. This analysis covers February 2025 and is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Soybean Oilcake Export (HS 230400) Background

What is HS Code 230400?

HS Code 230400 refers to oil-cake and other solid residues of soya-bean, commonly known as soybean oilcake. This product is a key byproduct of soybean oil extraction, primarily used as a high-protein animal feed ingredient in livestock and poultry industries. Its global demand remains stable due to the growing need for cost-effective feed solutions in agribusiness.

Current Context and Strategic Position

While no specific trade news or policy announcements have emerged, soybean oilcake exports from Argentina are influenced by global commodity price trends and domestic production cycles. Argentina's strategic significance in this trade flow stems from its role as a major soybean producer, ensuring a steady supply of soybean oilcake for international markets. Monitoring Argentina's soybean oilcake export dynamics under HS Code 230400 is critical, as shifts in production or trade policies could impact global supply chains. Stakeholders should remain vigilant to capitalize on emerging opportunities in this sector.

Argentina Soybean Oilcake Export (HS 230400) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Soybean oilcake exports in February 2025 reached 1.73 billion USD, with a unit price of $0.68 per kg. This represents a marginal decline in total value compared to January, despite a higher per-kilogram price, indicating a volume-driven contraction.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Soybean oilcake Export trend showed a mixed performance in early 2025, with February's unit price rising to $0.68 per kg from $0.66 per kg in January, while export weight fell to 2.56 billion kg from 2.65 billion kg. This sequential dip in volume, amid firming prices, likely stems from routine adjustments in global feed demand cycles or peso volatility impacting export flows. The hs code 230400 value trend remains stable overall, reflecting Argentina's role as a key supplier navigating typical market oscillations without major disruptions.

Argentina Soybean Oilcake Export (HS 230400) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In February 2025, Argentina's export under HS Code 230400 is overwhelmingly dominated by a single product variant. According to yTrade data, sub-code 23040010100, described as oil-cake and solid residues from soya-bean oil extraction, accounts for over 99% of both export value and weight, with a unit price of 0.68 USD per kilogram. A minor variant, sub-code 23040090200, has a higher unit price of 0.89 USD per kilogram but represents less than 0.1% of the market, indicating it is an isolated niche product rather than a significant anomaly.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The market splits into two clear categories based on price: a bulk standard grade at 0.68 USD per kilogram and a premium variant at 0.89 USD per kilogram, likely differing in processing or quality. This structure points to a trade in fungible bulk commodities, where the vast majority of exports are undifferentiated and price-sensitive, tied to commodity indices, with only a tiny segment showing any value-added characteristics.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

Exporters benefit from strong pricing power in the bulk segment due to high market concentration, but the premium variant suggests potential for diversification into higher-margin products. Strategic efforts should focus on optimizing cost efficiency for bulk exports while cautiously exploring opportunities in specialized grades to capture additional value.

Check Detailed HS Code 230400 Breakdown

Argentina Soybean Oilcake Export (HS 230400) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Vietnam is the dominant destination for Argentina's Soybean oilcake exports in February 2025, accounting for over a quarter of both the total value (25.36%) and weight (26.45%). The country's slightly higher weight share compared to its value share confirms the bulk commodity nature of these shipments. Ecuador and Indonesia follow as significant secondary buyers, with both also showing weight shares that meet or exceed their value contributions, reinforcing the trade of lower-margin, high-volume product.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The top buyers form clear clusters based on their import profiles. Vietnam, Ecuador, and Indonesia constitute a Volume Cluster, where their high weight shares point to their role as major processors or re-export hubs for bulk animal feed ingredients. Italy is the sole member of a High-Yield Cluster; its value share (6.14%) is nearly double its frequency share (3.10%), suggesting it pays a premium for specialized or higher-grade oilcake. The remaining countries, including Algeria, Malaysia, and Spain, form a Mixed-Profile Cluster, engaging in steady, mid-volume purchases.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For Argentina's Soybean oilcake trade, the strategy should focus on securing long-term contracts with high-volume partners like Vietnam to ensure stable bulk off-take. Logistics optimization for cost-effective shipping to these major Asian and South American ports is critical. Simultaneously, exploring the factors behind Italy's premium pricing could help identify opportunities to increase value in other European markets. With no specific trade news announced, these market dynamics appear driven by steady demand for feed inputs.

Table: Argentina Soybean Oilcake (HS 230400) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Action Plan for Soybean Oilcake Market Operation and Expansion

• Secure long-term contracts with high-volume buyers like Vietnam to stabilize bulk demand for Argentina's Soybean oilcake Export, ensuring predictable revenue and optimizing the Soybean oilcake supply chain for consistent throughput.
• Analyze the premium pricing factors for Italy using hs code 230400 trade data to identify quality or processing standards that can be replicated, enabling entry into higher-value European market segments.
• Optimize bulk shipping logistics to key Asian and South American ports to reduce per-unit transport costs, directly protecting margins in the price-sensitive bulk segment of the Soybean oilcake supply chain.
• Develop a dedicated product line for the premium oilcake variant to capture higher margins, using insights from hs code 230400 trade data to target buyers willing to pay for specialized quality.
• Continuously monitor hs code 230400 trade data for shifts in buyer frequency and volume from secondary markets, allowing for rapid reallocation of supply to prevent inventory overstock and capitalize on emerging demand.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Soybean oilcake Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Soybean oilcake Export 2025 February?

Argentina's Soybean oilcake exports saw a marginal decline in total value in February 2025 despite a higher unit price ($0.68/kg vs. $0.66/kg in January), driven by a volume contraction to 2.56 billion kg. The stability in value trends reflects routine adjustments in global feed demand cycles or peso volatility.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Soybean oilcake (HS Code 230400) 2025 February?

Vietnam dominates as the top buyer, accounting for 25.36% of export value and 26.45% of weight. Ecuador and Indonesia follow as significant secondary markets, while Italy stands out as a premium-paying destination.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Argentina Soybean oilcake Export?

The price gap stems from two product grades: bulk-standard oilcake (99% of exports at $0.68/kg) and a niche premium variant ($0.89/kg). Italy’s higher value share suggests it imports the premium grade, while volume-focused markets like Vietnam buy bulk.

Q4. What should exporters in Argentina focus on in the current Soybean oilcake export market?

Exporters should prioritize cost-efficient bulk shipments to high-volume partners (e.g., Vietnam) while exploring Italy’s premium segment to identify value-addition opportunities. Logistics optimization for Asian and South American routes is critical.

Q5. What does this Argentina Soybean oilcake export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

Volume-focused buyers (e.g., Vietnam, Ecuador) benefit from stable bulk supply, while Italy’s premium purchases indicate untapped potential for specialized grades. Most markets face low pricing volatility due to Argentina’s concentrated, commodity-driven exports.

Q6. How is Soybean oilcake typically used in this trade flow?

Soybean oilcake is primarily traded as a bulk animal feed ingredient, with its high-protein solid residues used in livestock and poultry feed formulations. The premium variant may cater to specialized feed or processing needs.