Fruit exports in Central Chile and copper shipments in the North have been stalled as workers from several major ports across the country have gone on strike, raising fears the export-oriented economy could see a repeat of last year’s strikes which lasted three weeks and cost millions of dollars.
While Chile’s number one export item, copper, is a non-time sensitive product, fresh fruit producers have been left sweating after one of the country’s most profitable ports and major handler of produce shipments, Puerto San Antonio, joined the ports of Mejillones, Iquique, Antofagasta and Huasco on strike as of Tuesday.
Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (Asosex) President Ronald Bowen told local press that losses could reach US$50 million if the strike lasts throughout the week. Bowen said up to 700 hundred containers of fruit were stalled and thousands of producers would be affected.
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