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

Argentina Sunflower Oil Export (HS 151219) Key Takeaways

Argentina's Sunflower Oil exports under HS Code 151219 in May 2025 reveal a market split between premium and bulk grades, with high-value shipments to the U.S. and South Korea offsetting lower-margin volume flows to Chile and Paraguay. The trade data shows extreme volatility, with export values plummeting to $18.51 million after a sharp April peak, signaling unstable demand or pricing pressures. Chile dominates as the top destination, absorbing over 37% of export value but at significantly lower unit prices, highlighting reliance on a single bulk buyer. Argentina's exporters must prioritize premium markets to counter this geographic concentration risk while navigating erratic market conditions. This analysis covers May 2025 and 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 global demand is driven by its neutral flavor, high smoke point, and versatility in both consumer and commercial sectors. As a refined product, it meets stringent quality standards, making it a staple in international trade.

Current Context and Strategic Position

While no recent trade policy changes directly impact Argentina's sunflower oil exports, global commodity price volatility and shifting supply chains underscore the need for market vigilance. Argentina is a key player in the HS Code 151219 trade data, ranking among the top exporters due to its robust agricultural sector and competitive pricing. The country's strategic position is further strengthened by its ability to meet growing demand in Asia and Europe. Monitoring sunflower oil export from Argentina remains critical, as macroeconomic factors like currency fluctuations and harvest yields could influence trade dynamics in 2025.

Argentina Sunflower Oil Export (HS 151219) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Sunflower Oil exports in May 2025 reached 18.51 million USD, marking a sharp decline from previous months and reflecting heightened volatility in the market.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Sunflower Oil Export trend for 2025 shows significant fluctuations, with values rising from 32.05 million USD in January to a peak of 61.50 million USD in April, before plummeting to 18.51 million USD in May. This sequential volatility, particularly the steep drop in May, aligns with typical post-harvest inventory cycles, where early-year shipments from the harvest season are often followed by a slowdown as supplies normalize. The hs code 151219 value trend suggests that external factors, such as shifting global demand or currency fluctuations impacting Argentina's export competitiveness, may have contributed to the instability, despite no major policy announcements during this period.

Argentina Sunflower Oil Export (HS 151219) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data for May 2025, Argentina's export under HS Code 151219 is highly concentrated, with sub-code 15121919110 dominating over half the value share. This sub-code, described as vegetable oils that are not crude, refined but not chemically modified, shows an extreme unit price disparity, indicating it is a specialized, high-value product isolated as an anomaly due to its disproportionately high value per kilogram.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous exports reveal a clear value-chain split. Sub-code 15121911000 represents a higher-value segment with a substantial value share and elevated unit price, likely corresponding to premium refined oil. Sub-code 15121919190 has a lower unit price, suggesting a bulk or standard grade, while 15121919129 occupies a mid-range position. This differentiation implies that the trade involves graded products rather than fungible commodities, as unit prices vary widely.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

Analysis of HS Code 151219 trade data indicates that pricing power for Argentina's exports is linked to product grade, with higher-value segments like 15121911000 offering better margin potential. Exporters should focus on quality upgrades and targeting premium markets to strengthen competitiveness, as the market structure rewards specialization over bulk sales.

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 May 2025 were heavily concentrated in a single market. Chile was the dominant destination, accounting for 37.76% of the total export value. This share far exceeds its 61.24% share of the total quantity, indicating Argentina shipped a significantly larger volume at a lower average price to Chile. This pattern suggests Chile primarily sources bulk, lower-value Sunflower Oil from Argentina. The United States was the second-largest partner by value (16.13%), but its minimal quantity share (0.64%) points to shipments of high-value, premium product grades.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The top destinations for Argentina's Sunflower Oil form two clear clusters. The first is a High-Yield Cluster including the United States and South Korea. Both have high value shares (16.13% and 6.35% respectively) with very low quantity shares, confirming a strategic focus on premium, higher-margin exports. The second is a Volume Cluster, led by Chile, Paraguay (11.69% value, 18.94% quantity), and Cuba (3.92% value, 5.84% quantity). These neighboring countries show a consistent profile of high volume relative to value, highlighting their role as major bulk buyers of this commodity for regional food and processing industries.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

The trade data for HS Code 151219 reveals two distinct strategic paths for Argentina. The first is to protect and optimize logistics for high-volume, lower-margin flows to regional partners like Chile and Paraguay, where cost-efficient bulk shipping is critical. The second, more lucrative path is to expand relationships in high-value markets like the United States and South Korea. Focusing on the quality and branding of Argentina's Sunflower Oil in these premium markets can drive greater revenue without a proportional increase in shipping volume or supply chain strain.

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

• Target high-value markets like the US and South Korea with premium-grade oil. Use the hs code 151219 trade data to identify buyers paying a premium; this directly boosts the profitability of the Argentina Sunflower Oil export without requiring a volume increase.
• Optimize the Sunflower Oil supply chain for bulk shipments to regional partners like Chile and Paraguay. Prioritize cost-efficient logistics for high-volume, lower-margin flows to protect market share and ensure supply security for key buyers.
• Leverage detailed export data to implement grade-based pricing. Analyze unit price disparities within the hs code 151219 trade data to ensure each product segment is priced correctly, maximizing revenue across different buyer types.
• Diversify export destinations to mitigate geopolitical and market risks. Reduce over-reliance on any single market by building on opportunities in other premium and volume clusters identified in the data, strengthening the overall resilience of the Argentina Sunflower Oil export business.

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 May?

Argentina's Sunflower Oil exports dropped sharply to 18.51 million USD in May 2025 after peaking in April, likely due to post-harvest inventory cycles and potential global demand or currency fluctuations.

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

Chile dominated with 37.76% of export value, followed by the United States (16.13%) and South Korea (6.35%), forming distinct high-value and bulk-volume clusters.

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

Prices vary by product grade: premium refined oil (sub-code 15121911000) commands higher prices in markets like the U.S., while bulk-grade oil (15121919190) ships at lower prices to regional buyers like Chile.

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

Exporters should prioritize premium markets (e.g., U.S., South Korea) for higher margins while optimizing bulk logistics for regional partners like Chile and Paraguay.

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

High-value buyers (e.g., U.S.) secure specialized, premium-grade oil, while volume buyers (e.g., Chile) rely on Argentina for cost-efficient bulk supply, reflecting stable regional demand.

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

Sunflower Oil is primarily traded for food processing and industrial use, with higher grades likely destined for premium consumer markets and bulk grades for regional manufacturing.