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

Argentina Unmanufactured Tobacco Export (HS 240120) Key Takeaways

Argentina’s unmanufactured tobacco exports (HS Code 240120) in January 2025 were dominated by bulk, fungible commodities, with 84% of value concentrated in stemmed/stripped tobacco priced at $13.20/kg. The market showed stable demand, opening strong at $7.36M, driven by post-harvest inventory releases. Mexico was the top buyer, accounting for 42% of exports, while Brazil and premium markets like South Korea and Turkey formed distinct demand clusters. This analysis is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database for January 2025.

Argentina Unmanufactured Tobacco Export (HS 240120) Background

What is HS Code 240120?

HS Code 240120 refers to unmanufactured tobacco, stemmed or stripped, which is 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 and health concerns. Argentina's unmanufactured tobacco export is a key contributor to this market, given the country's favorable growing conditions and high-quality output.

Current Context and Strategic Position

While no specific trade news or policy announcements have been made recently, the global tobacco market continues to face volatility driven by fluctuating commodity prices and evolving regulatory pressures. Argentina's strategic position in the hs code 240120 trade data is strengthened by its competitive production costs and established export networks, making it a significant player in the unmanufactured tobacco trade. Monitoring market trends remains critical for stakeholders, as shifts in demand or trade policies could impact Argentina's export dynamics. Vigilance is essential to navigate potential risks and capitalize on emerging opportunities in this sector.

Argentina Unmanufactured Tobacco Export (HS 240120) Price Trend

Key Observations

Argentina's unmanufactured tobacco export trend for January 2025 opened with a total value of 7.36 million USD at a unit price of 13.30 USD per kilogram for hs code 240120, indicating a solid initial performance for the year.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The hs code 240120 value trend's strong January start builds on typical industry cycles, where post-harvest inventory releases often drive early-year export momentum. In the absence of trade policy shifts, this stability likely reflects consistent global demand and Argentina's competitive positioning in unmanufactured tobacco markets.

Argentina Unmanufactured Tobacco Export (HS 240120) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In January 2025, Argentina's export of unmanufactured tobacco under HS Code 240120 shows strong concentration in a single product type. According to yTrade data, the sub-code for tobacco partly or wholly stemmed or stripped (24012030000) accounts for over 84% of the export value and 85% of the weight, with a unit price of 13.20 USD per kilogram, indicating its dominance in the market.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining exports are split into a secondary grade, priced slightly higher at 13.85 USD per kilogram, suggesting a basic differentiation in quality or processing rather than significant value-add stages. This structure points to a trade in fungible bulk commodities, where prices are likely influenced by standard market grades and global indices, not complex manufacturing.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For businesses involved in Argentina's HS Code 240120 exports, the market's commodity nature means limited pricing power, with strategies focused on cost efficiency and volume. Exploring the higher-priced niche could provide slight premium opportunities, but overall, success depends on aligning with bulk trade dynamics.

Check Detailed HS Code 240120 Breakdown

Argentina Unmanufactured Tobacco Export (HS 240120) Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Mexico is the dominant destination for Argentina's Unmanufactured Tobacco exports in January 2025. It accounted for 42.43% of the total export value and 45.71% of the total weight. The slightly higher weight share suggests these shipments are primarily bulk, raw material. The high frequency of shipments (25% of all transactions) also points to a steady, established supply chain for this commodity.

Destination Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The trade data reveals three distinct clusters for Argentina's tobacco exports. Brazil forms a volume hub, with a 23.36% weight share but a lower 18.8% value share, confirming its role as a large-scale buyer of bulk product. South Korea and Turkey form a high-yield cluster; their value shares (8.84% and 8.07%) are significantly higher than their weight shares (7.62% each), indicating demand for higher-grade tobacco. A final transactional cluster includes the U.S., Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, and Indonesia. They show a high frequency of smaller, lower-volume purchases, which is common for testing new batches or supplying niche manufacturers.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

The strategy should focus on two areas. First, logistics for bulk buyers like Mexico and Brazil must be optimized for cost efficiency to protect these high-volume relationships. Second, commercial efforts should target the premium markets of South Korea and Turkey to capture their higher margins. With no specific trade news affecting this period, these patterns are likely stable, requiring a consistent approach to market management for HS Code 240120.

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

Get Complete Destination Countries Profile

Action Plan for Unmanufactured Tobacco Market Operation and Expansion

• Optimize bulk shipping logistics for Mexico and Brazil using hs code 240120 trade data to consolidate high-volume shipments, reducing per-unit freight costs and protecting profit margins in the core Argentina Unmanufactured Tobacco Export market.
• Target premium buyers in South Korea and Turkey by leveraging trade data to identify and promote higher-grade tobacco lots, capturing the higher unit prices they command to increase overall revenue.
• Diversify the Unmanufactured Tobacco supply chain by developing secondary buyers in the transactional cluster (e.g., U.S., Indonesia) with smaller, frequent orders to mitigate over-reliance on a few large-volume destinations.
• Monitor global commodity indices and competitor export data for HS Code 240120 to anticipate price fluctuations, enabling proactive contract negotiations that lock in favorable rates for bulk shipments.

Take Action Now —— Explore Argentina Unmanufactured Tobacco Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Argentina Unmanufactured Tobacco Export 2025 January?

Argentina's unmanufactured tobacco exports started strong in January 2025, with a total value of 7.36 million USD at 13.30 USD/kg, reflecting typical post-harvest inventory releases and stable global demand.

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

Mexico dominates with 42.43% of export value, followed by Brazil (18.8%) and South Korea (8.84%), forming distinct bulk and premium market clusters.

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

Price differences stem from product grades—bulk shipments (e.g., Brazil) trade at 13.20 USD/kg, while premium markets (e.g., South Korea) pay 13.85 USD/kg for higher-quality tobacco.

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

Optimize logistics for bulk buyers (Mexico, Brazil) and target premium markets (South Korea, Turkey) to capture higher margins while maintaining cost efficiency.

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

Bulk buyers benefit from steady supply chains, while premium buyers access consistent high-grade tobacco, with niche markets (U.S., Indonesia) suited for smaller, flexible purchases.

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

Exported unmanufactured tobacco is primarily a raw material for further processing, such as cigarette manufacturing or specialty tobacco products.