Argentina Tobacco Leaves Export Market -- HS Code 240120 Trade Data & Price Trend (Apr 2025)

Argentina Tobacco Leaves Export (HS 240120) Key Takeaways

Argentina's tobacco leaves export under HS Code 240120 surged to $46.37 million in April 2025, driven by streamlined regulations and recovering demand, despite a slight price dip to $11.28/kg. The trade is dominated by bulk, fungible commodities with limited pricing power, concentrated in Belgium (59% of volume) as the primary hub, alongside secondary markets like Portugal and the Netherlands. This analysis, covering April 2025, is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database.

Argentina Tobacco Leaves Export (HS 240120) Background

What is HS Code 240120?

HS Code 240120 refers to unmanufactured tobacco, stemmed or stripped, primarily used as a raw material in the production of cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products. Global demand for this commodity remains stable due to its essential role in the tobacco industry, despite shifting regulatory landscapes. Argentina's tobacco leaves export under this code is a key contributor to its agricultural trade portfolio.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Argentina recently reformed its food import and export regulations, streamlining processes for products from countries with high sanitary standards [FAS USDA]. While this policy focuses on food, it signals broader trade facilitation efforts that could indirectly benefit tobacco exports. Argentina's strategic position in the hs code 240120 trade data is reinforced by its high-quality tobacco production and competitive pricing. As a leading exporter, the country's market performance requires close monitoring amid evolving global trade dynamics.

Argentina Tobacco Leaves Export (HS 240120) Price Trend

Key Observations

In April 2025, Argentina's tobacco leaves exports under hs code 240120 surged to 46.37 million USD, with a unit price of 11.28 USD per kg, reflecting a robust monthly performance that capped a period of significant growth. This represents a dramatic increase from previous months, driven by evolving trade conditions.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Argentina Tobacco Leaves Export trend exhibited notable volatility in early 2025, with exports plummeting in February to 2.49 million USD before rebounding sharply to 19.46 million USD in March and 46.37 million USD in April. This sequential surge aligns with regulatory reforms implemented in February, as reported by [FAS USDA], which streamlined export processes and likely facilitated increased shipment volumes despite a slight decline in unit prices from 13.30 USD per kg in January to 11.28 USD per kg in April. The hs code 240120 value trend underscores how policy adjustments can rapidly influence agricultural export cycles, overcoming typical seasonal fluctuations.

Argentina Tobacco Leaves Export (HS 240120) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data for April 2025, Argentina's export of tobacco leaves under HS Code 240120 is highly concentrated in one specific type. The product 'Tobacco; partly or wholly stemmed or stripped' (HS Code 24012040000) accounts for nearly two-thirds of the total export value and weight. Its unit price of $11.20 per kilogram is consistent with the market norm for this category. A third sub-code exists with a much lower price but represents a negligible volume, so it is treated as an outlier and excluded from the main structural analysis.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The market structure for Argentina's HS Code 240120 export is straightforward, comprising two main product forms with nearly identical unit prices around $11.20-$11.42 per kilogram. This minimal price spread, combined with the high volume and standardized product descriptions, indicates a trade in fungible bulk commodities. The export flow is not segmented by significant value-add stages or quality tiers but operates as a homogeneous mass product.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This analysis of HS Code 240120 trade data suggests exporters have limited individual pricing power, as the product is traded as a bulk commodity. Market prices will likely be influenced by global supply, demand, and commodity indices rather than product differentiation. The strategic focus for Argentine exporters should be on maintaining consistent quality and competitive large-scale production to secure contracts, rather than attempting to command premium prices through specialization.

Check Detailed HS Code 240120 Breakdown

Argentina Tobacco Leaves Export (HS 240120) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Belgium is the dominant destination for Argentina's Tobacco Leaves exports in April 2025, taking 59.32% of the total value and 58.82% of the weight. The nearly identical value and weight shares show this is a bulk trade of raw materials, with no significant price premium. Shipment frequency is also high at 49.48%, confirming a steady, large-volume flow. This performance for HS Code 240120 establishes Belgium as the primary market.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The trade data reveals three clear clusters. Portugal (15.98% value, 15.82% weight) and the Netherlands (7.72% value, 7.52% weight) form a volume cluster, acting as secondary hubs for regional distribution. A high-yield cluster includes Armenia and Indonesia; Armenia's value share (3.16%) is notably higher than its weight share (2.55%), suggesting some shipments of higher-grade leaf. The remaining countries, like the United States and South Korea, form a small transactional cluster with minimal shares, indicating infrequent, smaller purchases.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

The strategy should focus on securing the high-volume pipeline to Belgium while exploring the potential for more high-value shipments to partners like Armenia. Logistics must be optimized for bulk containerized sea freight to serve the major European hubs efficiently. The negligible shipment to Uruguay, likely a movement to a bonded zone for processing or temporary storage, is an outlier and does not impact the overall trade flow. The news about reformed food import rules does not directly apply to tobacco exports and is not a factor.

Table: Argentina Tobacco Leaves (HS 240120) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Action Plan for Tobacco Leaves Market Operation and Expansion

• Secure long-term contracts with major Belgian buyers using hs code 240120 trade data to ensure volume stability, because this high-volume flow is the core of the Argentina Tobacco Leaves Export business.
• Target high-yield markets like Armenia with dedicated shipments of higher-grade leaf to capture value premiums, as this diversifies revenue beyond the bulk commodity trade.
• Optimize the entire Tobacco Leaves supply chain for bulk containerized sea freight to major EU hubs to reduce logistics costs, which is critical for maintaining competitiveness in a low-margin market.
• Implement strict quality control protocols to ensure product consistency, as this builds reliability with high-volume buyers and protects the reputation of Argentina's Tobacco Leaves Export.
• Monitor global commodity indices and competitor export data to anticipate price shifts, enabling proactive contract negotiations to mitigate risks from external market pressures.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Tobacco Leaves Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Tobacco Leaves Export 2025 April?

The surge in exports to 46.37 million USD in April 2025 follows regulatory reforms that streamlined processes, overcoming typical seasonal fluctuations. The trade is dominated by bulk commodity shipments with minimal price differentiation.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Argentina Tobacco Leaves (HS Code 240120) 2025 April?

Belgium is the primary market, absorbing 59.32% of export value, followed by Portugal (15.98%) and the Netherlands (7.72%). These three account for over 80% of total shipments.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Argentina Tobacco Leaves Export?

Price differences are minimal (around $11.20–$11.42/kg) for bulk commodity shipments, except for outliers like Armenia, where higher value shares suggest occasional premium-grade leaf exports.

Q4. What should exporters in Argentina focus on in the current Tobacco Leaves export market?

Exporters should prioritize maintaining consistent bulk production for high-volume markets like Belgium while exploring niche opportunities in higher-value destinations such as Armenia.

Q5. What does this Argentina Tobacco Leaves export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

Buyers in Belgium and other volume hubs benefit from stable, large-scale supply, while markets like Armenia may access sporadic higher-grade shipments at marginally elevated prices.

Q6. How is Tobacco Leaves typically used in this trade flow?

The exports are primarily raw, partly or wholly stemmed/stripped leaves traded as homogeneous bulk commodities, likely for further processing in manufacturing or regional distribution.