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

Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export (HS 1512) Key Takeaways

Argentina's sunflower seed oil exports under HS code 1512 surged to $285.10 million in September 2025, rebounding from mid-year volatility as export duty suspensions boosted trade. The product is dominated by bulk crude oil (85.9% share), with limited pricing power due to its fungible commodity nature. India is the top buyer, accounting for 64.73% of export value by purchasing premium grades, while Chile and Paraguay drive volume with high-frequency bulk shipments. This analysis of September 2025 trade is based on verified 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

Argentina recently eliminated export duties on grains and by-products, including sunflower seed oil, until October 2025 [Aduana News]. This policy shift aims to bolster agricultural exports and provide relief to suppliers. Argentina's sunflower seed oil export is strategically significant, as the country ranks among the top global producers, leveraging its robust agricultural sector. Monitoring hs code 1512 trade data is critical to assess the impact of these policy changes and capitalize on emerging opportunities. Market vigilance is essential amid fluctuating global demand and competitive pricing dynamics.

Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export (HS 1512) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Sunflower Seed Oil exports under HS code 1512 reached 285.10 million USD in September 2025, demonstrating a robust recovery after mid-year volatility.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export trend began 2025 with strong momentum, climbing from 105.48 million USD in January to 387.56 million USD in April, likely driven by seasonal harvest cycles and inventory builds. However, values sharply declined in May and hit zero in July, before rebounding through August and September. This recovery aligns with Argentina's elimination of export duties on grains and by-products until October 2025 [Aduana News], which reduced trade barriers and supported the hs code 1512 value trend's upward shift.

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

Product Specialization and Concentration

In September 2025, Argentina's export under HS Code 1512 is highly concentrated in crude sunflower seed oil. According to yTrade data, the sub-code for crude, not chemically modified oil dominates with an 85.90% value share. Its unit price is approximately 1.10 USD per kilogram, indicating a bulk commodity specialization. Several sub-codes with unit prices below 0.01 USD per kilogram are isolated as anomalies due to extreme disparities.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous sub-codes group into crude and refined sunflower seed oil categories, with unit prices consistently around 1 USD per kilogram. This uniformity points to a trade in fungible bulk commodities, where products are standardized and likely tied to global price benchmarks, rather than differentiated by value-add stages.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For exporters, the bulk commodity nature of Argentina's HS Code 1512 export means pricing power is limited and influenced by external market forces. Strategic focus should prioritize cost efficiency and scaling volume to maintain competitiveness in commodity-driven markets.

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 September 2025, India was the top destination for Argentina's sunflower seed oil exports, holding a 64.73% share of the total export value. This value share is much higher than the quantity share of 12.85%, showing that India buys higher-grade or more refined sunflower oil at premium prices. The frequency of shipments is 10.04%, indicating steady but not daily trade activity.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

Export partners fall into two main groups. The high-yield cluster includes India, Iraq, the United States, Mexico, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Mauritius, where value shares exceed quantity shares due to demand for premium sunflower oil. The volume cluster has Chile and Paraguay, with high quantity shares of 43.63% and 20.07% but lower value shares, pointing to bulk shipments for processing or mass use. Chile's high frequency of 31.66% suggests regular bulk deliveries.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Argentina should prioritize high-margin markets like India and the US while improving logistics for bulk buyers in Chile and Paraguay. The removal of export duties on grains and by-products until October 2025 [Aduana News] likely helped September exports, and keeping such policies could aid HS code 1512 trade. Supply chains need to handle both premium and bulk flows smoothly.

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

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Action Plan for Sunflower Seed Oil Market Operation and Expansion

• Prioritize shipments to high-margin markets like India and the US, using hs code 1512 trade data to identify buyers paying premium prices for refined oil, in order to maximize revenue from the Argentina Sunflower Seed Oil Export.
• Optimize the Sunflower Seed Oil supply chain for bulk buyers like Chile and Paraguay by securing dedicated shipping and storage for high-volume, lower-margin shipments to maintain volume and market share.
• Align export schedules with Argentina's duty-free window on grains and by-products, leveraging the policy to reduce costs and increase competitiveness in global hs code 1512 trade.
• Use real-time hs code 1512 trade data to track global price benchmarks, adjusting offer prices dynamically to protect margins in a commodity-driven market.

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 September?

Argentina's sunflower seed oil exports rebounded in September 2025 after mid-year volatility, reaching 285.10 million USD. This recovery aligns with the temporary removal of export duties on grains and by-products, which reduced trade barriers.

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

India is the top destination, accounting for 64.73% of export value, followed by Chile and Paraguay, which dominate in quantity shares (43.63% and 20.07%, respectively).

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

The price difference stems from product specialization: India buys higher-grade or refined oil at premium prices, while Chile and Paraguay import bulk crude oil at lower unit prices.

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

Exporters should prioritize high-margin markets like India and the US while optimizing logistics for bulk buyers in Chile and Paraguay to handle both premium and volume-driven demand.

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

Buyers in India and similar high-value markets secure premium-grade oil, while bulk buyers like Chile benefit from steady, cost-effective shipments for processing or mass consumption.

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

Argentina's sunflower seed oil exports are primarily fungible bulk commodities, with crude and refined grades used for cooking, food processing, and industrial applications.