Argentina Sweetened Milk Export Market -- HS Code 0402 Trade Data & Price Trend (Q3 2025)
Argentina Sweetened Milk Export (HS 0402) Key Takeaways
Argentina’s sweetened milk exports (HS Code 0402) rebounded sharply in Q3 2025, driven by high-fat, unsweetened milk powder dominating 80% of trade value, signaling strong pricing power. The market is highly concentrated, with Algeria paying premium prices for quality and Brazil absorbing over half of volume as a distribution hub. This analysis, covering Q3 2025, is based on cleanly 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 referred to as sweetened milk. This product is widely used in food processing, confectionery, and dairy industries due to its extended shelf life and versatility. Global demand remains stable, driven by its role as a key ingredient in beverages, desserts, and packaged foods.
Current Context and Strategic Position
Argentina recently eliminated export duties on certain agricultural goods, including grains and by-products, until October 2025 [Aduana News]. While this policy does not directly target sweetened milk, it reflects a broader push to boost agricultural exports. Argentina’s sweetened milk export sector benefits from the country’s robust dairy industry and competitive pricing, making it a strategic player in global trade. Monitoring hs code 0402 trade data is critical to assess how these macroeconomic shifts impact Argentina’s sweetened milk export dynamics.
Argentina Sweetened Milk Export (HS 0402) Price Trend
Key Observations
Argentina's Sweetened Milk exports (HS Code 0402) showed a strong recovery in Q3 2025, with total export value reaching $174.42 million USD. This performance was driven by a significant rebound in August ($80.46M) and September ($93.96M), following a mid-year contraction.
Price and Volume Dynamics
The Argentina Sweetened Milk Export trend experienced notable volatility through 2025. After a solid start to the year, export values declined sharply from April through June, with July recording no shipments. The subsequent rebound in August and September aligns with Argentina's policy to eliminate export duties on grains and by-products until October 2025 [Aduana News], which likely reduced feed costs for dairy producers and improved export competitiveness. This policy support helped reverse the hs code 0402 value trend, positioning Q3 as a period of recovery despite broader market fluctuations.
Argentina Sweetened Milk Export (HS 0402) HS Code Breakdown
Product Specialization and Concentration
In Q3 2025, Argentina's export of sweetened milk under HS Code 0402 is heavily concentrated in high-fat, unsweetened milk powder, specifically the sub-code for dairy produce with fat content exceeding 1.5% and no added sugar, in solid forms. According to yTrade data, this product accounts for over 80% of the export value, indicating strong specialization. An anomaly is present with one sub-code showing an extremely high unit price, which has been isolated from the main analysis due to its outlier nature.
Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis
The remaining exports can be grouped into two main categories: low-fat or sweetened milk powders and non-powder concentrated forms. The low-fat or sweetened powders make up a smaller share of value, suggesting they are less dominant but still part of the product range. The presence of both unsweetened and sweetened variants points to a trade in somewhat differentiated goods rather than purely fungible commodities, with variations based on fat content and added sweeteners.
Strategic Implication and Pricing Power
This market structure implies that exporters of the dominant high-fat, unsweetened powder have significant pricing power due to their large share. For businesses analyzing HS Code 0402 trade data, the focus should be on leveraging this specialization while exploring opportunities in niche segments like sweetened or low-fat products to diversify and capture additional value in Argentina's export portfolio.
Table: Argentina HS Code 0402) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)
| HS Code | Product Description | Value | Frequency | Quantity | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 040221***** | Dairy produce; milk and cream, concentrated, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, in powder, granules or other solid forms, of a fat content exceeding 1.5% (by weight) | 142.15M | 385.00 | 12.49M | 0.00 |
| 040210***** | Dairy produce; milk and cream, concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, in powder, granules or other solid forms, of a fat content not exceeding 1.5% (by weight) | 16.73M | 158.00 | 3.18M | 0.00 |
| 040221***** | Dairy produce; milk and cream, concentrated, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, in powder, granules or other solid forms, of a fat content exceeding 1.5% (by weight) | 5.47M | 25.00 | 866.73K | 0.00 |
| 0402** | ******** | ******** | ******** | ******** | ******** |
Check Detailed HS Code 0402 Breakdown
Argentina Sweetened Milk Export (HS 0402) Destination Countries
Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role
Argentina's Sweetened Milk exports in Q3 2025 were highly concentrated, with the top two destinations accounting for over 90% of total export value. Brazil was the dominant volume partner, receiving 51.63% of the quantity shipped. However, Algeria was the clear value leader, generating 50.13% of the total export earnings from just 34.67% of the volume. This significant gap between Algeria's value share (50.13%) and its quantity share (34.67%) indicates a strong market for higher-grade or more premium finished products, as they paid a substantially higher price per unit.
Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes
The importers form three distinct clusters. Algeria defines a High-Yield Cluster, paying premium prices for quality. Brazil forms a Volume/Hub Cluster, absorbing over half of all physical shipments, which suggests it acts as a major distribution center or has high demand for bulk, cost-sensitive product. The remaining eight partners create a Transactional Cluster. They show a high collective frequency of shipments (over 20% of all transactions) but minimal combined volume and value (under 7%), pointing to a pattern of small, likely retail-driven orders to diverse markets.
Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications
The priority for Argentina's HS Code 0402 trade should be to secure and expand its high-margin business with Algeria. Concurrently, the large, steady volume to Brazil must be managed for logistical efficiency, potentially using it as a hub for wider regional distribution. The recent policy to establish a 0% export duty rate for certain goods [KPMG] directly supports this strategy by enhancing price competitiveness for all these Sweetened Milk export flows.
Table: Argentina Sweetened Milk (HS 0402) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)
| Country | Value | Quantity | Frequency | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALGERIA | 87.45M | 6.15M | 76.00 | N/A |
| BRAZIL | 70.54M | 9.16M | 444.00 | N/A |
| CAMEROON | 3.03M | 608.12K | 15.00 | N/A |
| NIGERIA | 1.52M | 6.18K | 4.00 | N/A |
| LEBANON | 1.23M | 90.20K | 8.00 | N/A |
| CÔTE D'IVOIRE | ****** | ****** | ****** | ****** |
Get Complete Destination Countries Profile
Action Plan for Sweetened Milk Market Operation and Expansion
- Prioritize high-margin exports of premium high-fat, unsweetened powder to Algeria, as the Argentina Sweetened Milk Export to this market generates the highest unit value, directly boosting overall profitability.
- Streamline logistics for bulk shipments to Brazil to act as a cost-efficient regional distribution hub, ensuring the Sweetened Milk supply chain remains competitive for high-volume, lower-margin flows.
- Use hs code 0402 trade data to identify and target niche importers in the transactional cluster with specialized low-fat or sweetened products, diversifying the export portfolio and capturing untapped value.
- Leverage the new 0% export duty rate to sharpen price competitiveness across all markets, protecting your margins and securing contracts in the Argentina Sweetened Milk Export business.
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 Q3?
The rebound in Q3 2025 was driven by policy changes, including the elimination of export duties, which reduced feed costs and improved competitiveness. August and September saw strong recoveries after a mid-year contraction.
Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Sweetened Milk (HS Code 0402) 2025 Q3?
Brazil (51.63% of volume) and Algeria (50.13% of value) dominated exports, together accounting for over 90% of total export value. Algeria paid premium prices despite receiving only 34.67% of volume.
Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Argentina Sweetened Milk Export?
The price gap stems from Algeria’s demand for high-fat, unsweetened milk powder (80% of export value), while Brazil absorbs bulk, cost-sensitive shipments. Algeria’s premium reflects its focus on higher-grade products.
Q4. What should exporters in Argentina focus on in the current Sweetened Milk export market?
Exporters should prioritize high-margin trade with Algeria while maintaining efficient bulk shipments to Brazil. Diversifying into niche segments like sweetened or low-fat products could capture additional value.
Q5. What does this Argentina Sweetened Milk export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?
Brazilian buyers benefit from steady bulk supply, while Algerian buyers pay premiums for quality. Smaller markets face fragmented, retail-driven orders with minimal volume impact.
Q6. How is Sweetened Milk typically used in this trade flow?
High-fat, unsweetened milk powder dominates for industrial or premium food applications, while sweetened or low-fat variants cater to niche consumer markets. Bulk shipments likely serve as ingredients or repackaging.
Detailed Monthly Report
Argentina HS0402 Export Snapshot 2025 JUL
Argentina Sweetened Milk Export Market -- HS Code 0402 Trade Data & Price Trend (Q2 2025)
Argentina's Sweetened Milk (HS Code 0402) exports fell 54% to $93.84M in Q2 2025, with Brazil dominating volume but Algeria driving premium margins, per yTrade data.
Argentina Sweetened Milk Export Market -- HS Code 0402 Trade Data & Price Trend (Sep 2025)
Argentina's sweetened milk (HS Code 0402) exports surged to $93.96M in Sept 2025, driven by duty cuts, with Algeria and Brazil as key markets—data from yTrade.
