Truck drivers at the Port of San Antonio ended a nine-day strike on Friday after reaching an agreement with cargo companies over rising operating costs, Fruitnet reported.
The industrial action forced the season’s first Cherry Express vessel to divert to the Port of Valparaíso to avoid shipment delays. Frutas de Chile president Iván Marambio said the deal paves the way for normal operations at the port.
This is a very important step for our industry, especially during a key period for Chilean fruit exports,
Marambio said, according to Fruitnet.
Transport operators agreed to unblock off-port storage facilities after securing rate improvements and Corfo credit facilities. The settlement includes an immediate eight percent increase to cargo transport rates.
Parties also agreed to introduce an indexing formula for future price revisions. Independent transport operators gained the right to participate as direct bidders in provincial company tenders and contracts.
Truckers will receive financial support measures to ensure sector sustainability. The local port authority committed to implementing a mandatory registration system to monitor traffic flow and prohibit unregistered trucks.
The walkout raised alarms across the fruit export sector because it coincided with the start of the export season for cherries and other seasonal fruits. Land-based operations at the logistics hub began returning to normal on Friday as access routes cleared.
We hope that the remaining storage facility will soon join the agreement, thereby safeguarding the continuity of the logistics chain and ensuring we meet our commitments to international markets,
Marambio said, as reported by Fruitnet.
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