Argentina Sunflower Oil Export Market -- HS Code 151219 Trade Data & Price Trend (Mar 2025)

Argentina Sunflower Oil Export (HS 151219) Key Takeaways

Argentina's sunflower oil exports under HS Code 151219 in March 2025 reveal a dual market: high-value refined oils (57% share at $3.83/kg) and bulk commodities ($0.59/kg), signaling strong pricing power in premium segments. Export volume surged to 31.75M kg despite a price drop to $1.23/kg, reflecting a harvest-driven volume push. Chile dominates as the primary buyer (45.7% of value), while Paraguay absorbs bulk volumes (66.5% of quantity) for processing. This analysis, covering March 2025, is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Sunflower Oil Export (HS 151219) Background

What is HS Code 151219?

HS Code 151219 refers to other sunflower seed or safflower oil, refined, a high-value edible oil used primarily in food processing, cooking, and industrial applications. Its stability and neutral flavor make it a preferred choice for manufacturers and consumers globally. Demand is driven by its versatility in food production and growing health-conscious consumer trends favoring plant-based oils.

Current Context and Strategic Position

While no specific trade policy updates have been announced, global commodity price volatility and shifting supply chain dynamics underscore the need for vigilance in tracking Argentina's sunflower oil exports. As one of the world’s top producers, Argentina plays a critical role in meeting global demand for HS Code 151219 trade data, particularly in key markets like Europe and Asia. Monitoring production trends and export volumes remains essential to anticipate market shifts and maintain competitive positioning.

Argentina Sunflower Oil Export (HS 151219) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Sunflower Oil exports for March 2025 reached a total value of $38.96 million. This performance occurred alongside a significant drop in the average unit price, which fell to $1.23/kg.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Sunflower Oil Export trend shows a clear shift in strategy for the first quarter. While the unit price fell sharply from $2.71/kg in February to $1.23/kg in March, export volume surged to 31.75 million kg. This dramatic increase in volume, more than offsetting the price decline, suggests a push to move large quantities of product, potentially capitalizing on the new harvest cycle. The overall hs code 151219 value trend remained strong, building sequentially from January's $32.05 million. This volume-led growth is likely tied to seasonal harvest pressures and competitive pricing to secure market share amid broader global vegetable oil market fluctuations.

Argentina Sunflower Oil Export (HS 151219) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In March 2025, Argentina's export of sunflower oil under HS Code 151219 is heavily concentrated in a high-value sub-category. According to yTrade data, the sub-code for refined sunflower oil fractions (specifically, "Vegetable oils; sunflower seed or safflower oil and their fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified") dominates with a 57% value share and a unit price of 3.83 USD per kilogram, highlighting its specialization in premium grades. A minor anomaly exists with a sub-code at 4.31 USD per kilogram, but it represents less than 0.01% of the volume and is isolated from the main analysis.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining exports under Argentina's HS Code 151219 can be grouped into two clear categories based on unit price and description: bulk sunflower oil with a low unit price of 0.59 USD per kilogram, accounting for 38% of the value, and other refined fractions with unit prices around 3 USD per kilogram. This structure shows a dual market with both fungible bulk commodities tied to price indices and differentiated, higher-value products, indicating that Argentina's HS Code 151219 trade data includes a range from basic to processed goods.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This analysis suggests that exporters of the high-value refined oils have stronger pricing power due to product differentiation, while bulk oil sellers face more competitive, commodity-based pricing. For businesses involved in Argentina's HS Code 151219 export, the strategic focus should be on expanding the higher-margin refined segments to capitalize on value addition and reduce dependency on volatile bulk markets.

Check Detailed HS Code 151219 Breakdown

Argentina Sunflower Oil Export (HS 151219) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Argentina's Sunflower Oil exports in March 2025 were heavily concentrated. Chile was the dominant destination, accounting for 45.71% of the total export value and 62.15% of the quantity. This significant share establishes it as the primary market for Argentina's Sunflower Oil trade. The fact that Chile's value share is lower than its quantity share suggests its purchases include a mix of both bulk and higher-value products.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The importers form two distinct clusters. The first is a high-volume processing hub, represented solely by Paraguay. It received a massive 66.47% of the total export weight but only 9.24% of the value. This enormous disparity indicates Paraguay is importing huge volumes of crude sunflower oil for further processing and re-export. The second cluster consists of premium markets, including South Korea, the United States, Australia, and Lithuania. These countries have a high value share relative to their low volume, pointing to demand for refined, bottled, or specialty sunflower oil products that command a much higher price per kilogram.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

The trade data for HS Code 151219 reveals a clear strategic path. Argentina must maintain its strong relationship with the high-volume Paraguayan processing hub, which absorbs a majority of its bulk production. Concurrently, greater focus should be placed on expanding exports to the premium markets identified in the high-yield cluster. Capturing more of these high-margin segments in countries like South Korea and the United States will be key to increasing the overall value of Argentina's Sunflower Oil shipments.

Table: Argentina Sunflower Oil (HS 151219) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Action Plan for Sunflower Oil Market Operation and Expansion

• Prioritize premium market expansion into South Korea and the United States by marketing refined, bottled products; this directly increases the value of Argentina's Sunflower Oil Export by focusing on its high-margin, specialized offerings.
• Secure the high-volume relationship with Paraguay's processing hub to ensure consistent offtake for bulk production; this provides a stable foundation for the overall Sunflower Oil supply chain and protects against demand volatility.
• Use detailed hs code 151219 trade data to segment pricing strategies, charging premium rates for refined fractions and competitive rates for bulk oil; this maximizes revenue by aligning price with the specific product grade and buyer type.
• Diversify the Sunflower Oil supply chain by developing new export routes beyond the dominant Chilean corridor; this reduces geopolitical and logistical risk for Argentina Sunflower Oil Export and creates access to more markets.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Sunflower Oil Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Sunflower Oil Export 2025 March?

Argentina's Sunflower Oil exports surged in volume (31.75 million kg) in March 2025, offsetting a sharp price drop to $1.23/kg, likely due to seasonal harvest pressures and competitive pricing to secure market share.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Sunflower Oil (HS Code 151219) 2025 March?

Chile dominated with 45.71% of export value, followed by Paraguay (9.24% value but 66.47% volume) and premium markets like South Korea and the U.S., which imported higher-value refined products.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Argentina Sunflower Oil Export?

Prices vary due to product specialization: bulk oil (avg. $0.59/kg) went to Paraguay for processing, while refined fractions (avg. $3.83/kg) were shipped to premium markets like the U.S. and South Korea.

Q4. What should exporters in Argentina focus on in the current Sunflower Oil export market?

Exporters should prioritize expanding high-margin refined oil sales to premium markets (e.g., U.S., South Korea) while maintaining bulk supply to Paraguay’s processing hub.

Q5. What does this Argentina Sunflower Oil export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

Buyers in Chile and Paraguay benefit from stable bulk supply, while premium-market buyers gain access to differentiated, high-value refined oils with stronger pricing power.

Q6. How is Sunflower Oil typically used in this trade flow?

Bulk oil is processed industrially (e.g., in Paraguay), while refined fractions are likely destined for retail or food manufacturing in premium markets.