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

Argentina Sweetened Milk Export (HS 0402) Key Takeaways

Argentina's sweetened milk exports under HS Code 0402 in September 2025 surged to $93.96 million, rebounding sharply after a mid-year slump, driven by the government's elimination of export duties. High-fat, unsweetened milk powder dominates trade, capturing 83.5% of export value, signaling a focus on bulk commodity products with pricing power. Algeria and Brazil are key markets—Algeria demands premium products, while Brazil drives volume with economy-grade shipments. The analysis, based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database, highlights Argentina's dual strategy: targeting high-margin buyers while optimizing bulk logistics for volume-driven partners.

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-based beverages, driving consistent global demand due to its versatility and shelf stability. Argentina’s production of sweetened milk under this HS code is a key component of its dairy export sector.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Argentina recently eliminated export duties on agricultural goods, including sweetened milk, until October 2025 [KPMG]. This policy shift aims to boost competitiveness in key markets, particularly the European Union, where Argentina benefits from preferential trade agreements. The country’s strategic position as a major dairy exporter, combined with favorable trade terms, underscores the importance of monitoring hs code 0402 trade data for shifts in Argentina’s sweetened milk export dynamics. Market vigilance is critical to capitalize on emerging opportunities and mitigate risks in a volatile global trade environment.

Argentina Sweetened Milk Export (HS 0402) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's Sweetened milk exports reached $93.96 million in September 2025, marking a notable sequential recovery from the previous month's $80.46 million and July's complete absence of shipments.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Sweetened milk Export trend through 2025 has been volatile, with trade values declining from a Q1 peak above $110 million to a mid-year trough. The sharp rebound in August and September aligns with the Argentine government’s late‑September move to eliminate export duties on agricultural goods, including grains and by‑products, through October [Aduana News]. This policy likely improved exporter margins and accelerated shipments ahead of the harvest season, supporting the recovery in the hs code 0402 value trend despite broader global dairy market softness.

Argentina Sweetened Milk Export (HS 0402) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

Argentina's export activities for sweetened milk under HS Code 0402 in September 2025 are dominated by high-fat, unsweetened milk powder. According to yTrade data, the sub-code for milk and cream, concentrated, not containing added sugar, with fat content exceeding 1.5%, holds an 83.53% value share and 75.46% quantity share of total exports. A sub-code with minimal quantity but significantly high value is present, indicating a potential data anomaly or specialty item that is isolated from the main analysis due to its extreme price characteristics.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous exports fall into two groups: low-fat sweetened or concentrated milk powders and other minor variants based on fat content and sweetening. This breakdown shows that Argentina's HS Code 0402 trade data revolves around bulk commodity products, differentiated mainly by basic quality grades like fat percentage, rather than advanced processing or branding.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

Market players in Argentina's HS Code 0402 export should leverage the strong position in high-fat unsweetened powder for better pricing power. Focusing on consistent quality in this segment and cautiously exploring niche products can help maintain competitiveness without falling into low-margin commodity traps.

Table: Argentina HS Code 0402) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

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 September 2025 were highly concentrated in two primary markets. Algeria was the clear value leader, receiving 56.01% of total export value ($52.62M) from just 16.07% of total shipments. This disparity, where its value share is over 2.5 times its quantity share (45.63%), indicates a strong Algerian demand for premium, higher-value sweetened milk products. Brazil was the volume leader and most frequent partner, accounting for 46.34% of total quantity (4.04M units) and 67.21% of all shipments, but only 36.11% of total value. This profile suggests Brazil primarily imports bulk or economy-grade product.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The remaining importers form two distinct clusters. A small, transactional cluster includes countries like Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, and Lebanon. They show moderate quantity shares but very low value contributions, indicating trade in lower-cost variants, potentially for widespread retail distribution. A second, niche cluster contains partners like Egypt, Mali, Nigeria, Congo, and Chile. They have minimal quantity shares but notable value per shipment, pointing to small-scale imports of specialized or premium finished goods for specific market niches.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

The analysis for HS Code 0402 reveals a dual strategy is needed. To maximize returns, Argentina should prioritize high-margin markets like Algeria and niche buyers. For the high-volume Brazilian market, supply chains must be optimized for cost-efficient, bulk logistics. The recent policy shift to a 0% export duty rate for certain goods, as established by Decree No. 682 [KPMG], directly enhances Argentina's price competitiveness for these sweetened milk shipments, making this strategic focus more viable.

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

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Action Plan for Sweetened Milk Market Operation and Expansion

• Prioritize high-margin markets like Algeria by analyzing hs code 0402 trade data to target buyers with a history of purchasing premium, high-fat products; this directly increases the profitability of Argentina's Sweetened milk Export.
• Optimize the Sweetened milk supply chain for high-volume, low-margin shipments to Brazil by securing cost-efficient bulk logistics contracts; this protects market share in your largest volume destination.
• Leverage the 0% export duty rate to aggressively price high-fat unsweetened milk powder; this strengthens Argentina's Sweetened milk Export competitiveness against global rivals in key markets.
• Use hs code 0402 trade data to identify and cautiously develop niche markets in countries like Egypt and Chile for specialized products; this diversifies revenue streams beyond bulk commodity trade.
• Continuously monitor hs code 0402 trade data for shifts in buyer frequency and order size; this allows for rapid adjustments in production and logistics to prevent overstock or missed opportunities.

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 September?

The rebound in export value to $93.96 million reflects recovery from mid-year lows, driven by Argentina’s elimination of export duties on agricultural goods, which improved margins and accelerated shipments ahead of the harvest season.

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

Algeria (56.01% of value) and Brazil (46.34% of quantity) dominate, with Algeria importing premium high-value products and Brazil focusing on bulk economy-grade shipments.

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

Price differences stem from product specialization: Algeria’s high-value imports are linked to high-fat unsweetened milk powder (83.53% value share), while Brazil’s bulk shipments likely involve lower-fat or sweetened variants.

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

Exporters should prioritize high-margin markets like Algeria and niche buyers while optimizing cost-efficient bulk logistics for Brazil, leveraging the 0% export duty policy for competitiveness.

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

Algerian buyers access premium products at higher prices, while Brazilian buyers benefit from stable bulk supply. Niche markets (e.g., Egypt, Chile) can source specialized variants but face limited availability.

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

Argentina’s exports are primarily bulk commodity products (e.g., high-fat unsweetened powder) for industrial use or retail distribution, with minor niche variants for specialized applications.