Argentina river pilots’ strike paralyzes grain export corridors

A strike by Argentine river pilots, initiated on August 1, has halted grain export flows, causing disruptions in the FOB Up River premiums market and casting uncertainty on the shipment outlook for major suppliers of corn and soybean products. The Professional Association of River Captains and Pilots of the Merchant Marine issued the directive, citing concerns over the new regulatory framework introduced by Decree 690/2026, which includes tariff caps, open registration for service providers, and exemptions for foreign captains.

The association argues that these changes could compromise navigation safety and expose professionals to legal liabilities, and has vowed to take legal action against the decree. As of August 3, at least 140 vessels were awaiting pilotage confirmations, with the backlog growing as more ships arrived, leading some shipowners to redirect cargoes to ports in Uruguay and southern Brazil.

The strike, which has not yet reached a resolution, may impact Argentina's export program during a crucial period of the corn harvest.

Brief written by urgent.news from Hellenic Shipping News's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.