Port strikes in Argentina fire up again
Argentine port workers this week continued to picket two important grain ports at a key shipping centre north of the city of Rosario. A dispute over service fees is causing the strike.
About three-quarters of Argentina’s agriculture exports are shipped from river ports clustered around Rosario and nearby San Lorenzo. Argentina is the world’s leading soy meal and soy oil exporter and is third-largest in soybean exports.
The cooperative that employs the picketing workers is demanding that grain exporters pay more for the port services it provides.
Limited effect
So far, the effect of the strike has been limited, as only two of the 12 ports lining the banks of the Parana River near San Lorenzo have been shut down, Games said.
In addition, port activity is at its lowest point of the year right now, as grain supplies from last season’s harvest dwindles.
However, the corn harvest has already started and the soy harvest will kick off in earnest toward the end of this month.
Also read: Argentina grain ports reopen after strike
