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

Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export (HS 1512) Key Takeaways

Argentina's sunflower seed oil exports under HS code 1512 in January 2025 were dominated by crude, bulk-grade shipments, with refined oils commanding higher prices but limited volume. The market showed strong early-year performance, with $105.48 million in exports, driven by high-value, high-frequency buyers—primarily large traders—indicating a concentrated, intermediary-driven trade structure. Chile was the top destination by volume but paid lower prices, while markets like the UAE and India absorbed premium refined products at higher margins. Exporters should prioritize refining capacity and high-value partnerships to capitalize on this dual-track opportunity. This analysis covers January 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 not, but not chemically modified. This product is widely used in food processing, cooking oils, and industrial applications due to its high stability and nutritional value. Global demand remains steady, driven by its versatility in both consumer and manufacturing sectors.

Current Context and Strategic Position

In January 2025, Argentina implemented permanent cuts to export duties on sunflower oil under HS Code 1512, following a temporary reduction earlier in the year [FreightAmigo]. A separate decree also temporarily eliminated export taxes on agricultural commodities, including sunflower oil, until October 2025 or until sales reached $7 billion [USDA]. Argentina’s sunflower seed oil exports are strategically significant, with robust shipments to key markets like Mexico and Pakistan [Volza]. These policy shifts underscore the need for vigilance in tracking Argentina’s sunflower seed oil export trends and HS Code 1512 trade data to navigate compliance and capitalize on trade opportunities.

Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export (HS 1512) Price Trend

Key Observations

In January 2025, Argentina's Sunflower Seed Oil exports under HS code 1512 reached a value of $105.48 million, with a volume of 44.21 million metric tons, yielding an average price of approximately $2,386 per ton. This performance indicates a strong opening for the year in the Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export trend.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The hs code 1512 value trend for January sets a positive tone, likely reflecting steady demand and efficient supply chain operations early in the year. While sequential comparisons are limited without prior monthly data, this level aligns with typical post-harvest export patterns, where stored inventories from previous seasons support initial annual shipments.

External Context and Outlook

Global market dynamics, including demand from key importers and currency exchange rates, influence the Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export trend. As a major producer, Argentina's export volumes are sensitive to international price shifts and domestic production cycles, suggesting continued vigilance on market conditions for the remainder of 2025.

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 January 2025 is heavily concentrated in crude, unrefined products. According to yTrade data, the dominant sub-code is "Vegetable oils; sunflower seed or safflower oil and their fractions, crude, not chemically modified", which accounts for over 60% of the export value and nearly 70% of the weight, with a unit price of 2.17 USD per kilogram. This high volume but lower price point indicates a focus on bulk commodity trade. An extreme price anomaly is present in a minor sub-code with a unit price of 0.08 USD per kilogram, which is isolated from the main analysis due to its insignificant share.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous sub-codes can be grouped into two main categories based on processing stage: crude sunflower seed oils and refined or further processed oils. Crude oils make up the bulk of exports, with unit prices ranging from 2.17 to 2.68 USD per kilogram, while refined oils show higher unit prices, up to 3.19 USD per kilogram, suggesting a value-add through processing. This structure points to a trade in fungible bulk commodities, where prices are likely linked to global indices rather than brand differentiation, with minor inclusions of other vegetable oils like cotton-seed oil.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, Argentina's HS Code 1512 export data reveals that pricing power is higher for refined products due to their premium unit prices. Strategies should focus on increasing the share of refined sunflower seed oil exports to capture more value, as the current dominance of crude oil may limit margin potential in competitive commodity markets. Analyzing HS Code 1512 trade data can help identify opportunities for product upgrading.

Check Detailed HS Code 1512 Breakdown

Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export (HS 1512) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Chile was the dominant destination for Argentina's Sunflower Seed Oil exports in January 2025, receiving 59.64% of the total weight. However, its value share was only 18.41%, creating a significant gap. This pattern shows Chile primarily buys bulk, lower-value oil. Colombia and the United Arab Emirates also held large value shares at 14.07% and 12.78% respectively, despite much smaller weight shares, suggesting they pay for higher-grade or more processed oil.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The top buyers form three clear clusters. The first is a bulk cluster, including Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay. These countries account for the majority of the shipped weight, indicating large-volume purchases of crude oil. The second is a high-yield cluster, featuring the United Arab Emirates, India, Peru, and Oman. They have high value shares relative to their weight, pointing to imports of refined, premium products. The final group is a small-buyer cluster with Malaysia, Brazil, and Mauritius, which have low shares across all metrics, representing minor, perhaps newer, market opportunities.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For Argentina's Sunflower Seed Oil trade, the strategy should balance these clusters. The high-volume trade with Chile requires efficient bulk logistics, like large tanker shipments, to maintain competitiveness. Meanwhile, the higher-value markets in the UAE and India offer better margins for refined products; focusing on these relationships can increase overall export revenue. This two-track approach is supported by Argentina's policy of cutting export duties, which helps keep bulk shipments price-competitive [efeedlink]. Ensuring accurate HS Code 1512 classification remains vital for smooth customs clearance in all destinations.

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

In January 2025, the Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil export market for HS code 1512 showed a typical commodity trade structure. According to yTrade data, the four segments of buyers—based on purchase value and frequency—indicate that high-value, high-frequency buyers dominate the market share. This group represents the core of Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil export buyers, driving most of the trade volume and value during this period.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

The remaining buyer segments include high-value low-frequency, low-value high-frequency, and low-value low-frequency groups, but the dominant high-value high-frequency cluster defines the market as intermediated or agent-driven. For HS code 1512 buyers, this suggests that large trading companies or processors are key, handling bulk shipments frequently. The profile of HS code 1512 buyers aligns with commodity markets where intermediaries manage most transactions.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

For Argentine exporters, the buyer structure supports a focus on maintaining relationships with high-volume traders, reducing reliance on sporadic buyers. The temporary elimination of export taxes until October 2025, as reported by USDA, lowers costs and boosts competitiveness, but exporters must monitor policy changes to avoid disruptions. Sales should prioritize consistent, high-value partnerships to leverage current opportunities.

Check Full Sunflower Seed Oil Buyer lists

Action Plan for Sunflower Seed Oil Market Operation and Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

Argentina's Sunflower Seed Oil export market is a bulk commodity trade. Its price is driven by product grade and global index linkage. Crude oil trades at lower prices, while refined oil captures premiums. The Sunflower Seed Oil supply chain is split between high-volume bulk buyers and high-value refined oil importers. This creates two distinct logistics needs: efficient bulk shipping and value-focused product handling. Argentina's role is as a processing hub, but margins are limited by the heavy reliance on crude oil exports. Policy changes, like temporary tax cuts, impact competitiveness but add geopolitical risk.

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

• Use hs code 1512 trade data to identify and target buyers in high-value markets like the UAE and India. This shifts sales toward refined products, increasing profit margins per kilogram exported.
• Analyze buyer frequency data to solidify contracts with high-value, high-frequency partners. This ensures stable, predictable revenue and reduces vulnerability to sporadic, low-value orders.
• Monitor the geographic distribution of exports to balance bulk shipments to Chile with premium shipments to other clusters. This optimizes the Sunflower Seed Oil supply chain for both volume efficiency and margin growth.
• Track policy announcements, especially regarding the expiration of export duty suspensions, using trade intelligence platforms. This allows for proactive cost management and avoids sudden price disadvantages in competitive markets.

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 January?

Argentina's Sunflower Seed Oil exports in January 2025 showed strong performance with $105.48 million in value, driven by steady demand and efficient post-harvest supply chain operations. The dominance of crude, unrefined oil (60% of export value) indicates a focus on bulk commodity trade, while refined oils command higher unit prices.

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

Chile was the top destination, receiving 59.64% of the weight but only 18.41% of the value, indicating bulk purchases. Colombia (14.07% value share) and the UAE (12.78% value share) imported higher-grade, refined oils.

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

Price differences stem from product grade—crude oils average $2.17/kg, while refined oils reach up to $3.19/kg. Chile buys bulk crude oil, while the UAE and India pay premiums for processed products.

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

Exporters should prioritize high-value, high-frequency buyers (dominant in trade volume) and expand refined oil shipments to markets like the UAE and India for higher margins. Maintaining bulk logistics for Chile is also critical.

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

Buyers in bulk markets (e.g., Chile) benefit from stable, low-cost supply, while high-value markets (e.g., UAE) access premium refined oils. Intermediaries dominate trade, ensuring consistent availability but limiting direct supplier relationships.

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

Crude sunflower oil is primarily used for bulk food processing or industrial applications, while refined oils cater to higher-end culinary and retail markets. The trade reflects this dual demand structure.