Argentina truckers end strike at key grain port

Truckers in Argentina have ended a disruptive protest that brought one of the country’s key grain export hubs to a standstill, clearing the way for shipments to resume.

The blockade at the Quequén Port was lifted after drivers reached an agreement with farmers that includes a 16% increase in freight rates. Operations at the terminal are now gradually returning to normal, according to port officials, News.Az reports, citing Reuters.

The deal also caps administrative fees charged by grain collectors and cargo providers at 2%, a key demand from drivers who had argued rising costs were eating into their earnings. The agreement was confirmed by the ATCADE.

During the protest, truckers blocked access roads to the port, halting activity at a facility responsible for roughly 20% of Argentina’s soybean exports. The disruption also spread to the nearby Bahía Blanca Port, amplifying the impact on the country’s agricultural trade.

Industry estimates suggest the strike stalled exports worth around $450 million, highlighting how vulnerable global supply chains can be to domestic disputes.

As a leading agricultural powerhouse, Argentina is the world’s third-largest soybean exporter and the top supplier of processed soy meal and oil. Any interruption at its ports can quickly ripple through international markets.

With the agreement in place, attention now turns to how quickly exports can recover—and whether the resolution will hold as cost pressures continue to challenge transport and farming sectors.

News.Az 

By Aysel Mammadzada