BUENOS AIRES: Argentine dock workers went on strike for better conditions on Thursday, slowing the country's ports just ahead of corn and soybean harvests key to world grains markets and the local economy.
"At this time we are not mooring ships, and this will continue until we reach a deal with the port authorities," Omar Suarez, spokesman for the SOMU harbor workers' union, told Reuters.
Argentina supplies nearly half the world's soymeal, used for animal feed, as well as soyoil, used for cooking and in the booming international bio-fuel sector. The South American country also provides about 12 percent of soybean exports and is the world's No. 2 corn exporter after the United States.
The strike halted at least two cargo ships in the country's main grains hub Rosario, said Argentina's port chamber, known by its Spanish acronym CAPYM.
The chamber issued a statement saying all the country's ports were being affected by the work stoppage, which was called as Argentine farmers get set to bring in their crops.
"It is not possible to dock or clear ships to set sail," the statement said.
"This all started due to a problem in the port of Bahia Blanca and now the unions are extending their operations," it said. "At this point the strike is affecting the whole system."
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