A strike initiated by the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) will significantly disrupt grain shipping operations at Argentina’s Rosario port hub. Due to this strike, which encompasses various unions across the country, no grain or agro-industrial product ships will be able to dock or depart on Thursday. The action will commence at midnight local time and will last for 24 hours.
Guillermo Wade, manager of the Chamber of Port and Maritime Activities (CAPyM), informed Reuters that the strike would involve the Maritime Workers Union and the river navigators’ union. While ships that are already moored will still be able to load grains and their derivatives, no vessels will be permitted to leave the port during this period. In addition to the maritime unions, two unions representing soybean oil plant workers announced their support for the CGT’s strike, which is a response to the austerity measures implemented by President Javier Milei’s government.
These policies have provoked significant opposition from various labor organizations. Argentina holds a vital position in global agriculture as the top exporter of soybean oil and meal and the third-largest exporter of corn. The country is also an important supplier of wheat.
The strike’s impact on shipping operations could therefore have broader consequences for the agricultural market and international grain supply chains. As the situation develops, stakeholders in the agricultural sector will be closely monitoring the strike’s impact on operations and exports.