Argentina Sweetened Milk Export Market -- HS Code 0402 Trade Data & Price Trend (Feb 2025)

Argentina Sweetened Milk Export (HS 0402) Key Takeaways

Argentina's Sweetened Milk Export under HS Code 0402 in February 2025 is dominated by high-fat, unsweetened powder, a premium product commanding $9.02/kg, while lower-fat and sweetened variants form secondary tiers. Exports declined 4% month-over-month to $97.26 million, though unit prices rose to $7.84/kg, signaling tighter supply. Brazil absorbs over half the volume via frequent small shipments, with Algeria as a secondary bulk market. Buyer concentration data is unavailable, limiting risk assessment. This analysis, covering February 2025, is based on processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Sweetened Milk Export (HS 0402) Background

What is HS Code 0402?

HS Code 0402 covers milk and cream, concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, commonly known as sweetened milk. This product is widely used in food processing, dairy-based beverages, and confectionery industries, driving stable global demand due to its versatility and shelf stability. Argentina’s dairy sector, a key exporter, benefits from competitive production costs and established trade routes.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Argentina’s export policies in 2025 have seen significant shifts, including the elimination of export duties on certain goods under Decree No. 682 [KPMG]. While this decree primarily targets grains and steel, it reflects a broader trend of trade liberalization, including the US-Argentina Framework Agreement on Reciprocal Trade [USTR]. For Argentina’s sweetened milk exports, these developments underscore the importance of monitoring tariff adjustments and preferential access opportunities. As a leading dairy exporter, Argentina’s trade data for HS Code 0402 remains critical for global supply chain planning, particularly amid evolving trade frameworks. Vigilance is essential to capitalize on emerging market advantages.

Argentina Sweetened Milk Export (HS 0402) Price Trend

Key Observations

In February 2025, the Argentina Sweetened Milk Export trend under HS code 0402 reached a value of $97.26 million, with a unit price of $7.84 per kilogram. This represents a slight decrease in total value compared to the previous month, while prices edged higher.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The hs code 0402 value trend showed a month-over-month decline of about 4% from January's $101.39 million, accompanied by a reduction in export volume from 13.25 million kg to 12.41 million kg. The simultaneous rise in unit price from $7.65 to $7.84 per kilogram suggests tighter supply or cost pressures, possibly due to seasonal factors like reduced milk production cycles in Argentina's dairy industry during this period.

External Context and Outlook

Absent major policy shifts in early 2025, the market's stability may be influenced by macro-economic elements such as currency exchange rates and global demand fluctuations for dairy products. Future performance will likely depend on these underlying economic conditions.

Argentina Sweetened Milk Export (HS 0402) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, Argentina's export of HS Code 0402 in February 2025 is heavily concentrated in high-fat milk powder. The dominant product is milk and cream in powder form with over 1.5% fat and no added sugar, which accounts for nearly three-quarters of the total export value. This product commands a significantly higher unit price of $9.02 per kilogram, suggesting it is a specialized, premium category within the broader product group.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining exports form two clear tiers. The first is lower-fat milk powder (under 1.5% fat), which trades at a lower average price, establishing a secondary commodity-grade segment. A much smaller third tier consists of sweetened, high-fat powder, but its minimal volume share indicates it is a niche, value-added product rather than a bulk category. This structure shows Argentina’s HS Code 0402 trade data is split between a dominant bulk commodity (high-fat powder) and a clear secondary grade, with minimal finished consumer product export.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

The high unit price of the main product gives its exporters strong pricing power, as buyers are likely paying for specific quality attributes rather than treating it as a purely fungible commodity. For companies analyzing HS Code 0402 trade data, the strategy should focus on maintaining the quality and market position of the high-fat, unsweetened powder, which is the profit driver, rather than diversifying into the lower-value segments.

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Argentina Sweetened Milk Export (HS 0402) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Brazil is the dominant destination for Argentina's Sweetened Milk exports in February 2025, accounting for 52.29% of the value and 53.50% of the weight. The frequency share is notably higher at 74.46%, indicating a high volume of frequent shipments. This disparity suggests that exports to Brazil involve many small, regular consignments, which is typical for perishable goods like milk to ensure freshness and meet retail demand. The close alignment between value and weight shares points to standardized pricing for this product.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The top destinations can be grouped into two clusters based on trade patterns. The first cluster includes Brazil and Algeria, which together represent over 85% of the value and weight, indicating他们是主要的批量市场 for bulk shipments. Algeria shows a lower frequency share (9.79%) compared to Brazil, suggesting larger, less frequent shipments that might serve as regional distribution hubs. The second cluster consists of smaller markets like Chile and Venezuela, with shares under 6% in value and weight, reflecting niche or emerging demand for Sweetened Milk from Argentina. The high frequency in Brazil is likely driven by geographic proximity and strong trade ties, facilitating daily or weekly shipments.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For forward strategy, Argentina should prioritize maintaining efficient, high-frequency supply chains to Brazil to support the perishable nature of Sweetened Milk exports, possibly using refrigerated logistics. Expanding into stable markets like Algeria with optimized bulk shipping could capture growth. Monitoring trade data for HS Code 0402 will help identify shifts in these patterns.

Table: Argentina Sweetened Milk (HS 0402) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Argentina Sweetened Milk (HS 0402) Buyers Analysis

Buyer Market Concentration and Dominance

The buyer cluster data for Argentina Sweetened Milk Export in February 2025 is not provided in the input. According to yTrade data, the four segments of buyers based on value and frequency are essential to determine the market structure and identify the dominant cluster. Please provide the specific values for these clusters to analyze the typical trade and concentration for Argentina Sweetened Milk Export buyers.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

Without the cluster data, I cannot analyze the strategic roles or commercial personas of the buyers for HS code 0402 trade. The profile of HS code 0402 buyers would typically indicate whether the market is intermediated, state-controlled, or direct-to-factory, but this requires the actual data from yTrade on the four segments.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

Sales strategy and vulnerability analysis for Argentina Sweetened Milk Export cannot be conducted without the buyer cluster data. Implications for strategic focus, risk, and sales model depend on understanding the buyer structure, which is currently unavailable. If provided, the data would help outline brief, concrete strategies aligned with the trade nature.

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Action Plan for Sweetened Milk Market Operation and Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

Argentina's Sweetened Milk Export market is defined by two key factors. The first is product quality. High-fat, unsweetened powder drives premium pricing at $9.02/kg. This product commands strong pricing power. The second factor is geographic concentration. Brazil accounts for over half of all exports. Its high shipment frequency reflects the perishable nature of the goods. These factors create a dual supply chain need. Argentina must maintain stringent quality control for its premium product. It must also ensure rapid, reliable logistics to its primary market. The stability of the Sweetened Milk supply chain depends heavily on these two elements. Any disruption in quality or shipping would directly impact Argentina's export performance. Analysis of hs code 0402 trade data confirms this structure.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Sweetened Milk Market Execution and Expansion

• Monitor Brazil's shipment frequency in real-time using hs code 0402 trade data. This allows for dynamic logistics planning. It prevents stockouts or spoilage in the primary market.
• Track the unit price of high-fat powder against global dairy indexes. This ensures Argentina maintains its premium positioning. It protects against commoditization and price erosion.
• Analyze import patterns in secondary markets like Algeria and Chile. This identifies opportunities for growth beyond Brazil. It diversifies market risk for the Sweetened Milk supply chain.
• Audit buyer profiles immediately upon data availability to classify them by value and frequency. This reveals if the market relies on many small buyers or a few large ones. It shapes a targeted sales and credit strategy.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Sweetened Milk Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Sweetened Milk Export 2025 February?

The slight decline in export value (-4% MoM) is due to reduced volume, while higher unit prices suggest tighter supply or seasonal production dips in Argentina's dairy sector.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Sweetened Milk (HS Code 0402) 2025 February?

Brazil dominates with 52.29% of export value, followed by Algeria (33%+ combined with Brazil), forming the bulk market. Smaller buyers like Chile and Venezuela account for under 6%.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Argentina Sweetened Milk Export?

Prices vary primarily due to product grade: high-fat, unsweetened powder commands $9.02/kg, while lower-fat or sweetened variants trade at lower rates, reflecting quality tiers.

Q4. What should exporters in Argentina focus on in the current Sweetened Milk export market?

Prioritize high-fat, unsweetened powder (74% of value) to leverage pricing power, while optimizing high-frequency shipments to Brazil to maintain perishable supply chains.

Q5. What does this Argentina Sweetened Milk export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

Brazil’s buyers benefit from frequent, small shipments ensuring freshness, while bulk buyers like Algeria may act as regional hubs for redistributed supply.

Q6. How is Sweetened Milk typically used in this trade flow?

The bulk of exports are industrial-grade high-fat milk powder, likely used in food manufacturing, while sweetened variants serve niche consumer markets.