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

Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export (HS 1512) Key Takeaways

Argentina’s Sunflower Seed Oil export under HS Code 1512 in May 2025 saw a sharp decline to $139.61M, reversing prior growth, likely impacted by US tariff revisions. The market hinges on crude sunflower seed oil, which dominates 74% of export value, signaling a premium bulk commodity trade. India is the top destination, absorbing 53% of export value but just 7% of volume, reflecting demand for high-grade oil. Buyer concentration remains unclear, heightening vulnerability to policy shifts. This analysis covers May 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, and industrial applications due to its high smoke point and nutritional profile. Global demand remains stable, driven by its versatility in both consumer and manufacturing sectors.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (2025) Revision 5 reflects recent regulatory updates impacting trade classifications [USITC]. For Argentina, sunflower seed oil exports are strategically significant, as the country ranks among the top global producers. Argentina's competitive pricing and high-quality output position it as a key supplier, especially amid fluctuating commodity markets. Monitoring hs code 1512 trade data is critical to assess Argentina's sunflower seed oil export dynamics and adapt to evolving trade policies. Vigilance is essential to capitalize on emerging opportunities and mitigate risks.

Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export (HS 1512) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Sunflower Seed Oil exports in May 2025 declined sharply to a value of 139.61 million USD, marking a reversal from the previous months' upward trajectory.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export trend demonstrated strong sequential growth from January to April, with value increasing from 105.48 million USD to 387.56 million USD, likely driven by seasonal harvest cycles that boost supply and export availability. This momentum was disrupted in May, possibly due to trade policy adjustments reflected in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States revision in March [USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule], which may have introduced uncertainties affecting the hs code 1512 value trend. The overall pattern suggests responsiveness to both agricultural cycles and external regulatory shifts.

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

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, Argentina's export of HS Code 1512 in May 2025 is heavily concentrated in crude sunflower seed oil, specifically the sub-code for crude oil not chemically modified, which accounts for 74% of the total export value. This dominance suggests a strong specialization in bulk, unrefined oils, with the high value share relative to quantity indicating that this grade commands a premium price per kilogram. One sub-code for other than crude oil shows an anomalously low unit price, which appears to be an outlier and is isolated from the main analysis.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining sub-codes can be grouped into two categories: crude oils and other than crude oils (which include refined or further processed varieties). The crude oil group, while less prominent in value, still represents a significant portion of exports, reinforcing the commodity nature of this trade. The other than crude oils category shows varied unit prices, but overall, the structure points to a market dealing primarily in fungible bulk commodities, with limited differentiation beyond basic refining stages.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players involved in Argentina's HS Code 1512 export, the high concentration in crude oils suggests that pricing power is somewhat tied to global commodity indices, but the focus on premium crude grades could offer marginal advantages. Strategic efforts should prioritize maintaining quality in crude oil production to leverage its value share, while being mindful of the competitive, bulk-driven market dynamics. Analyzing HS Code 1512 trade data further can help identify opportunities in specific sub-codes.

Table: Argentina HS Code 1512) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

Check Detailed HS Code 1512 Breakdown

Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export (HS 1512) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In May 2025, India was the dominant destination for Argentina's Sunflower Seed Oil exports, accounting for 53.30% of the total export value but only 7.47% of the quantity. This large gap between value share and quantity share shows that Argentina ships higher-grade or finished Sunflower Seed Oil to India, likely fetching premium prices. Chile follows with a high quantity share of 54.23% but a lower value share of 7.07%, indicating bulk or lower-end trade patterns.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The export partners split into two main clusters. First, the high-yield cluster includes India, the United States, Netherlands, Iraq, Oman, and UAE, where value shares exceed quantity shares, pointing to demand for premium Sunflower Seed Oil variants. Second, the volume cluster is led by Chile, with Brazil also showing higher quantity than value shares, suggesting these are hubs for bulk shipments or processing due to cost-efficient logistics. Chile's high frequency share of 35.28% adds a transactional element, possibly from regular shipments for industrial use.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Argentina should focus on maintaining high-margin exports to premium markets like India and the US while optimizing supply chains for bulk buyers like Chile to reduce costs. For HS Code 1512 trade, leveraging existing relationships in high-yield clusters can drive revenue growth, and investing in logistics for volume clusters can secure market share. The news context does not provide relevant support for this analysis.

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

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil (HS 1512) Buyers Analysis

Buyer Market Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, no specific buyer cluster information is provided for Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export buyers in May 2025. This lack of data prevents any analysis of market dominance or the typical trade structure for this period. Without this data, the concentration of buyers across the four segments cannot be determined.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

Without access to the buyer cluster data from yTrade, the strategic roles and commercial personas of the four segments for HS code 1512 buyers cannot be interpreted. The profile of Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export buyers remains unclear, making it impossible to assess whether the market is intermediated, state-controlled, or direct-to-factory.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

For Argentina's Sunflower Seed Oil Export, the recent update to the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule in March 2025 [USITC] suggests potential changes in trade policies that could affect exports. Sellers should monitor these tariff revisions closely to adapt sales strategies and mitigate risks, as the absence of buyer data heightens vulnerability to market shifts.

Check Full Sunflower Seed Oil Buyer lists

Action Plan for Sunflower Seed Oil Market Operation and Expansion

• Prioritize premium crude oil shipments to India and other high-value markets using hs code 1512 trade data to identify the specific sub-codes that command the highest prices, because this directly maximizes the revenue for Argentina's Sunflower Seed Oil Export.
• Optimize the Sunflower Seed Oil supply chain for bulk shipments to volume hubs like Chile by negotiating long-term freight contracts and investing in port efficiency, as this reduces logistical costs and secures market share in high-frequency, bulk-driven trade.
• Diversify the buyer base by identifying new high-value importers through deeper analysis of global hs code 1512 trade data, which mitigates the risk from over-reliance on a few key markets and the current lack of buyer cluster information.
• Monitor US tariff schedule revisions closely and adapt sales strategies accordingly to protect the Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export from potential policy shifts that could impact market access and pricing.

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 May?

The sharp decline in May 2025 exports to 139.61 million USD reflects a reversal from previous growth, likely due to trade policy adjustments and seasonal harvest cycles affecting supply.

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

India dominates with 53.30% of export value, followed by Chile (7.07% value share) and the United States, Netherlands, Iraq, Oman, and UAE in the high-yield cluster.

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

The price gap stems from Argentina’s specialization in premium crude sunflower seed oil (74% of exports), with India paying higher prices for high-grade oil, while Chile receives bulk shipments at lower unit costs.

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

Exporters should prioritize maintaining quality for premium markets like India and the US while optimizing logistics for bulk buyers like Chile to balance margins and volume.

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

Buyers in India and other high-yield markets secure premium-grade oil, while volume-focused buyers like Chile benefit from cost-efficient bulk shipments for industrial processing.

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

The trade primarily involves crude, unrefined oil (74% of exports) for further processing, with a smaller share of refined variants catering to diverse industrial and consumer needs.