The port strike in Argentina is over! More than 150 ships were backed up, and there’s still a risk of delays ahead!

The nationwide strike by Argentine port pilots has officially ended, and port operations are back to normal. The conflict lasted for three days, leaving over 150 ships stuck in ports and waterways, with import and export activities completely halted.

Event Review

This work stoppage was initiated by maritime pilots to protest against Presidential Decree No. 690/2026 signed by President Milei. The decree aims to relax regulations on the pilotage industry, allowing some ships to navigate without hiring pilots if the captain is familiar with the route, and removing the cap on the number of licensed pilots.

Pilotage services have been completely halted since August 1, preventing ships from entering or leaving ports. Major ports like Buenos Aires, Rosario, and Puerto Blanca are all affected. Some shipping companies have temporarily rerouted to ports in Montevideo, Uruguay, and southern Brazil.

Core ports affected this time

Buenos Aires, La Plata, Dock Sud

Rosario (the main inland port hub on the Paraná River, hit the hardest)

Bahía Blanca, Quequén, and other ports

During the work stoppage, ships couldn’t enter or leave the channels due to no pilot services. Some shipping companies, to minimize losses, temporarily rerouted voyages to Montevideo in Uruguay or ports in southern Brazil, resulting in extra transshipment costs and delays.

⚠️ Key Reminder

Although the port has resumed operations, there is still a large amount of cargo piled up at the terminals and waterways, and it will take time to clear. In the short term, shipments, loading/unloading, and container pick-up may still face varying degrees of delays.

Goods already shipped to Argentina: Keep following up with the shipping company for updates on berthing and unloading schedules.

Recent bookings on the Argentina route: Allow plenty of logistics buffer time and watch out for detention at the port and extra storage fees.

Keep a close eye on further developments: Pay attention to the results of the Joint Working Committee reviews and whether industry policies change again.

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