Argentine grains ports and crushing plants idled due to general strike

Buenos Aires | Reuters—Argentine grains ports and soybean crushing plants in the area surrounding the major Rosario hub are standing idle due to a nationwide strike launched on Thursday, the head of the major grains exporting nation’s oilseed export chamber said.

“None of the ports and factories are operating,” according to chamber president Gustavo Idigoras. “There aren’t any problems or disturbances but everything is closed.”

Guillermo Wade, who leads the CAPyM chamber of port and maritime activities, confirmed the stoppage.

“The unions have all joined, so activity is totally affected,” he said.

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Unions called a 24-hour general strike against the harsh austerity measures implemented by libertarian President Javier Milei.

The spending cuts, which appear to be slowing the country’s near 300 per cent inflation rate and have momentarily eliminated the fiscal deficit, are also increasing poverty and unemployment as consumption collapses.

The strike action comes as farmers reap the country’s major soybean and corn harvests, bringing ports into what is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year.

While crushing and port worker groups are participating in the strike the farmers’ Argentine Rural Confederations (CRA) said it was not striking: “To overcome our Nation’s crisis we must keep working,” the group said on X.

—Reporting for Reuters by Maximilian Heath and Adam Jourdan