The grape season in Peru and cherry season in Chile had their shipments interrupted due to demonstrations by different transport sectors of both countries in protest against the rise in fuel costs, as reported by Agraria.
Governments of both countries managed to negotiate an end the demonstrations in late November, but not before realizing losses of more than $200 million between both countries.
The Chilean Minister of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela, pointed out that the losses in his sector amount to $60 million during the eight days of mobilizations.
“If it continued, the losses could have reached $500 million,” Valenzuela said.
For its part, in Peru the losses during the seven days of mobilizations were higher. The president of the Association of Exporters (ADEX), Julio Perez Alván, said the roadblocks carried out in various parts of the countries generated daily losses of $25 million, totaling around $175 million.
“This entire crisis will cause an accumulation of stocks pending shipment that will lead to delaying all the programming for December and January. However, the most important consequences would be seen in the future, putting contracts with international clients at risk and affecting the image of our country as a reliable supplier. In addition, let us remember that the export sector employs almost 3 million people,” stated Alván.
In Peru, the end of the mobilizations came after a 16 hour meeting of 37 transport unions with the head of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC), Richard Tineo. According to Abraham Marlon Milla, president of the Heavy Load Carriers and Drivers Guild (GTC), it is about mandatory minimum cost, dry ports to move international cargo and protection of the regional cargo reserve.
In Chile, a meeting was held between the country’s food unions and government authorities, with the trucker sectors that remained mobilized, who reached a tripartite agreement with the business organization Confederation of Production and Commerce (CPC) and the Government.
