Overview
- Self-organized grain haulers ended their protest after a negotiation at the Puerto Quequén Port Consortium produced a 16% increase in the reference freight tariff.
- The accord limits administrative deductions by grain depots to 2%, keeps private parking fees at Sitio 0 unchanged for now, and applies a stay charge if a truck remains more than 24 hours after entering with a loading slot.
- Exporters reported about 17 ships waiting and roughly 347,600 tonnes delayed, with losses estimated near US$300 million, while some local tallies put the hit higher.
- The dispute centered on fast-rising operating costs such as diesel, and truckers in Quequén had rejected a 14% offer that other provincial ports accepted.
- Some shipments were rerouted to Bahía Blanca and even Brazil, and operations now turn to clearing the backlog as a new index with the National University of the Center is set to guide future tariff updates.