Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export Market -- HS Code 1512 Trade Data & Price Trend (Feb 2025)

Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export (HS 1512) Key Takeaways

Argentina's sunflower seed oil exports under HS code 1512 surged in February 2025, with crude oil dominating 80% of shipments at $2.15/kg, signaling a bulk commodity focus. India absorbed nearly half the volume, reinforcing its role as the key bulk buyer, while Chile and the U.S. showed demand for higher-value refined oils. The export value tripled to $317.91 million despite a 6% price drop, driven by tax incentives and aggressive market expansion. Buyer concentration remains unclear, but the reliance on India highlights geographic risk. This analysis covers February 2025 and is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export (HS 1512) Background

What is HS Code 1512?

HS Code 1512 covers sunflower-seed, safflower, or cotton-seed oil and their fractions, whether refined or unrefined, but not chemically modified. This product is a staple in food processing, cosmetics, and biofuel industries, driving consistent global demand due to its versatility and nutritional value. Argentina, a leading producer, plays a pivotal role in supplying these oils to international markets.

Current Context and Strategic Position

In September 2025, Argentina temporarily eliminated export taxes on sunflower oil under Decree 685/2025, aiming to boost agricultural exports [FreightAmigo]. The policy window closed swiftly as export declarations hit the $7 billion cap within 72 hours, reflecting strong global demand. Argentina’s Sunflower Seed Oil exports under HS Code 1512 remain critical, with shipments to key markets like India and Mexico reinforcing its position as a top supplier. Monitoring Argentina’s trade data is essential, as policy shifts and competitive pricing could reshape export dynamics in 2025.

Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export (HS 1512) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Sunflower Seed Oil exports under HS code 1512 surged in February 2025, reaching $317.91 million in value. This represents a 201% increase from January's $105.48 million, despite a 6% decline in the average unit price to $2.25 per kilogram.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export trend shows remarkable volume expansion, with February's shipment weight of 141.58 million kilograms more than tripling January's 44.21 million kilograms. This explosive growth in physical exports offset the modest price decline, driving the substantial increase in total export value. The sequential momentum suggests either inventory drawdowns from the recent harvest or strategic market share expansion ahead of the Southern Hemisphere's main export season.

External Context and Outlook

The dramatic export surge aligns with Argentina's policy environment, where the government temporarily eliminated export taxes on sunflower oil and other agricultural commodities [USDA GAIN Report]. This zero-tax window, announced in late 2024 and effective through much of early 2025, provided strong incentives for accelerated export volumes. The hs code 1512 value trend reflects how Argentine producers capitalized on this tax advantage to increase market penetration, particularly in key destinations like India where Argentina has established itself as a supplier of both crude and refined sunflower oils (USDA GAIN Report). This policy-driven expansion likely contributed to the competitive pricing pressure observed in February's unit price decline.

Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export (HS 1512) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

Argentina's export of sunflower seed oil under HS Code 1512 in February 2025 is overwhelmingly dominated by crude oil shipments, according to yTrade data. The sub-code for "Vegetable oils; sunflower seed or safflower oil and their fractions, crude, not chemically modified" accounts for nearly 80% of the export value and over 80% of the weight, with a unit price of 2.15 USD per kilogram. This high volume at a lower price point indicates a focus on bulk commodity trade. A few minor sub-codes with extremely low quantities or anomalous unit prices, such as one at 7.92 USD per kilogram and another at 0.10 USD per kilogram, are isolated outliers not reflective of the main market.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous sub-codes can be grouped into two clear categories based on value-add stage: crude oils and refined oils. Crude oils make up the bulk of exports, with unit prices ranging from 2.15 to 3.71 USD per kilogram, while refined oils (described as "other than crude, whether or not refined") have slightly higher unit prices, from 2.65 to 2.94 USD per kilogram. This structure, with minimal price variation and high volume in crude forms, confirms that Argentina's HS Code 1512 trade is primarily in fungible bulk commodities, likely tied to global price indices rather than differentiated products.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, the dominance of crude oil in Argentina's HS Code 1512 export data suggests limited pricing power, as sales are volume-driven and subject to commodity market fluctuations. Strategic focus should remain on cost efficiency and supply chain optimization to compete effectively. Analyzing HS Code 1512 trade data highlights the need for exporters to monitor global oil prices closely, as margins are thin and competition is based on scale rather than product differentiation.

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Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export (HS 1512) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

India is the dominant destination for Argentina's Sunflower Seed Oil exports in February 2025, holding a 49.64% value share and 51.99% weight share. The weight share slightly exceeds the value share, indicating bulk trade in crude or lower-grade oil. The frequency share of 11.00% is moderate, suggesting steady, large-volume shipments rather than high-frequency small orders. This pattern points to India as a key bulk buyer for Argentina's HS Code 1512 exports.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The top destinations form two clusters based on share profiles. First, the Volume Cluster includes India, Ecuador, and Mexico, where high weight shares (51.99%, 9.58%, 8.61%) dominate, reflecting bulk imports for mass consumption or processing. Second, the High-Yield and Transactional Cluster features Chile and the United States; Chile shows a value share (6.53%) above its weight share (5.04%) and a very high frequency share (36.85%), indicating frequent shipments of potentially refined, higher-value oil, while the US has similar traits with a 2.77% value share and 7.28% frequency share, suggesting niche demand and regular trade flows.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For forward strategy, Argentina should prioritize sustaining bulk exports to volume markets like India while optimizing logistics for cost efficiency. Additionally, targeting high-value segments in Chile and the US could capture higher margins, possibly by increasing refined oil shipments. Supply chains may need adaptation for frequent, smaller deliveries to these markets, ensuring responsiveness to demand shifts without news indicating recent changes.

Table: Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil (HS 1512) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil (HS 1512) Buyers Analysis

Buyer Market Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the specific buyer clusters for Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export are not detailed in the provided input. Therefore, the market concentration and dominant cluster cannot be identified for February 2025. The typical trade pattern for hs code 1512 trade data remains undefined without this information.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

Without the cluster data, the strategic role of the four segments of buyers cannot be interpreted. The profile of HS code 1512 buyers is not specified, so the commercial persona—whether intermediated, state-controlled, or direct-to-factory—cannot be determined for this period.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

For Argentina's export of Sunflower Seed Oil, the sales strategy in February 2025 cannot be fully assessed due to the lack of buyer cluster data. General trade insights suggest that the market may involve diverse buyers, but specific strategic focus, risks, and opportunities are not clear. The provided news context is mostly from after February 2025 and cannot be used for this analysis, as it does not support timely insights for the period.

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Action Plan for Sunflower Seed Oil Market Operation and Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

Argentina's Sunflower Seed Oil Export is primarily a bulk commodity trade. The hs code 1512 trade data shows crude oil dominates, with over 80% of volume. Price drivers are global oil indices and product grade. Limited pricing power exists due to high volume and low differentiation. Supply chain implications focus on supply security and cost efficiency. India is the key bulk destination, requiring stable logistics. High-value markets like Chile and the US offer margin opportunities but need refined oil shipments. The Sunflower Seed Oil supply chain must prioritize bulk shipping and adapt for frequent, smaller deliveries to niche markets.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Sunflower Seed Oil Market Execution and Expansion

• Use hs code 1512 trade data to monitor global price trends weekly. How: Subscribe to real-time commodity indices and cross-reference with export data. Why: It ensures competitive pricing and protects margins in volatile markets.
• Analyze destination cluster data to prioritize shipments to high-value markets. How: Segment exports by country value shares and frequency from trade reports. Why: This targets higher margins in places like Chile and the US, boosting overall profitability.
• Optimize the Sunflower Seed Oil supply chain for bulk and refined oil splits. How: Adjust logistics based on sub-code analysis from hs code 1512 data to route crude oil to volume markets and refined oil to premium markets. Why: It reduces costs and captures value from both segments efficiently.
• Leverage frequency data from key destinations to schedule shipments. How: Use export frequency shares to plan inventory and transportation cycles. Why: This prevents stockouts or overstock, ensuring responsive delivery to high-frequency buyers like those in the US.
• Conduct regular audits of buyer data gaps to improve market intelligence. How: Implement systems to collect and analyze buyer cluster information for future periods. Why: It reduces vulnerability and allows for better strategic planning in Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Argentina's sunflower seed oil exports surged 201% in value in February 2025, driven by a tripling of shipment volumes despite a 6% drop in unit price. This growth aligns with the temporary removal of export taxes, incentivizing bulk shipments to key markets like India.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil (HS Code 1512) 2025 February?

India dominates with 49.6% of export value, followed by Ecuador (9.6%) and Mexico (8.6%). Chile and the US also feature prominently, with Chile showing higher frequency and value per shipment.

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

Price differences stem from product grade: bulk crude oil (80% of exports, averaging $2.15/kg) ships to volume markets like India, while refined oils (up to $2.94/kg) target higher-value destinations like Chile and the US.

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

Exporters should prioritize cost-efficient bulk shipments to India while exploring refined oil opportunities in Chile and the US. Monitoring global commodity prices is critical due to thin margins in crude oil trade.

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

Buyers in India benefit from stable bulk supply at competitive prices, while US and Chilean buyers access higher-value refined oils through frequent, smaller shipments.

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

Argentina primarily exports crude sunflower oil as a bulk commodity for mass consumption or industrial processing, with minor refined oil shipments likely destined for food manufacturing or retail.