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Oilseed workers strike halts grain exports at Rosario area ports

Oilseed workers strike halts grain exports at Rosario area ports. The disruption ran from 2020-12-09 (9 December 2020) to 2020-12-29 (29 December 2020), 21 days, affecting Rosario, San Martin. San Martin averaged 0.2 calls per day during the event window against an expected 2.1 (-2.0). Rosario averaged 1.4 calls per day during the event window against an expected 1.9 (-0.5).

World Freight Monitor permanent record. https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2020/oilseed-workers-strike-rosario-ports-2020/. Record last updated 2026-09-16.

Key facts

Started
2020-12-09 (9 December 2020)
Ended
2020-12-29 (29 December 2020)
Status
ended
Severity
3 Significant
Scope
regional
Chokepoints
None
Lanes
None
Countries
Argentina
Confidence
high: The start, the continuation and the settlement are documented in statements by the unions that called the strike, with the lifting of the action and the number of ships waiting reported by Infobae.
First reported
2020-12-09 (9 December 2020)
  • Severity basis: Port level stoppage of seven days or more, since loading at the Rosario area export terminals was halted for 21 days from 2020-12-09.

What happened

A national strike by oilseed workers and grain receivers that began at 06:00 on 2020-12-09 (9 December 2020) halted crushing plants and export loading at the Rosario area ports on the Paraná river for 21 days. The oilseed workers' federation and the grain receivers' union URGARA called the action over pay, naming the employer chambers CIARA, CEC, CARBIO, CIAVEC and CPPC. Terminals at Rosario, Puerto General San Martín, San Lorenzo, Timbúes, Arroyo Seco, General Lagos, Villa Constitución, San Nicolás, Ramallo, Zárate, Bahía Blanca and Quequén were affected. The unions announced a settlement on 2020-12-29 after talks at the national labour ministry. Press reported 173 ships waiting to load when the strike was lifted.

Measured effect

Dry bulk port calls, Rosario

Baseline (expected)
1.9 calls per day
Observed
1.4 calls per day
Change
-0.5 (percent omitted, baseline too small)
Standardised score
-0.3
Event window
2020-12-09 to 2020-12-29 (21 days)
Baseline window
2020-10-07 to 2020-12-01 (56 valid days)
Method
wfm-effect-1.0
Computed
2026-09-16 (16 September 2026), data revision 1:b0b17944448e
Dry bulk port calls, RosarioDry bulk port calls, Rosario, 2020-09-30 (30 September 2020) to 2021-02-09 (9 February 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2020-10-06 to 7 calls per day on 2020-10-15, with a mean of 2.0 calls per day. The latest value, for 2021-02-09, was 3 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2020-12-09 to 2020-12-29.024682020-09-302020-12-052021-02-09
Dry bulk port calls, Rosario, 2020-09-30 (30 September 2020) to 2021-02-09 (9 February 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2020-10-06 to 7 calls per day on 2020-10-15, with a mean of 2.0 calls per day. The latest value, for 2021-02-09, was 3 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2020-12-09 to 2020-12-29.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Dry bulk port calls, Rosario (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2020-09-303
2020-10-012
2020-10-021
2020-10-032
2020-10-043
2020-10-053
2020-10-060
2020-10-072
2020-10-083
2020-10-092
2020-10-103
2020-10-112
2020-10-122
2020-10-134
2020-10-140
2020-10-157
2020-10-163
2020-10-173
2020-10-183
2020-10-191
2020-10-200
2020-10-211
2020-10-221
2020-10-232
2020-10-244
2020-10-254
2020-10-260
2020-10-272
2020-10-284
2020-10-293
2020-10-301
2020-10-312
2020-11-010
2020-11-023
2020-11-030
2020-11-042
2020-11-051
2020-11-065
2020-11-075
2020-11-081
2020-11-091
2020-11-104
2020-11-111
2020-11-120
2020-11-132
2020-11-140
2020-11-151
2020-11-161
2020-11-175
2020-11-181
2020-11-191
2020-11-202
2020-11-213
2020-11-222
2020-11-236
2020-11-242
2020-11-250
2020-11-262
2020-11-271
2020-11-281
2020-11-292
2020-11-303
2020-12-010
2020-12-025
2020-12-030
2020-12-043
2020-12-052
2020-12-060
2020-12-072
2020-12-082
2020-12-096
2020-12-102
2020-12-111
2020-12-121
2020-12-131
2020-12-142
2020-12-151
2020-12-160
2020-12-171
2020-12-182
2020-12-191
2020-12-200
2020-12-211
2020-12-223
2020-12-232
2020-12-241
2020-12-250
2020-12-261
2020-12-270
2020-12-280
2020-12-293
2020-12-300
2020-12-312
2021-01-010
2021-01-023
2021-01-031
2021-01-044
2021-01-052
2021-01-060
2021-01-071
2021-01-085
2021-01-092
2021-01-102
2021-01-110
2021-01-123
2021-01-130
2021-01-145
2021-01-152
2021-01-163
2021-01-173
2021-01-186
2021-01-194
2021-01-202
2021-01-212
2021-01-221
2021-01-233
2021-01-246
2021-01-251
2021-01-262
2021-01-272
2021-01-282
2021-01-292
2021-01-300
2021-01-311
2021-02-010
2021-02-023
2021-02-036
2021-02-040
2021-02-052
2021-02-065
2021-02-071
2021-02-082
2021-02-093

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Dry bulk port calls, San Martin

Baseline (expected)
2.1 calls per day
Observed
0.2 calls per day
Change
-2.0 (percent omitted, baseline too small)
Standardised score
-1.3
Event window
2020-12-09 to 2020-12-29 (21 days)
Baseline window
2020-10-07 to 2020-12-01 (56 valid days)
Method
wfm-effect-1.0
Computed
2026-09-16 (16 September 2026), data revision 1:c76f191dbb02
Dry bulk port calls, San MartinDry bulk port calls, San Martin, 2020-09-30 (30 September 2020) to 2021-02-09 (9 February 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2020-10-19 to 8 calls per day on 2020-10-13, with a mean of 2.2 calls per day. The latest value, for 2021-02-09, was 1 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2020-12-09 to 2020-12-29.024682020-09-302020-12-052021-02-09
Dry bulk port calls, San Martin, 2020-09-30 (30 September 2020) to 2021-02-09 (9 February 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2020-10-19 to 8 calls per day on 2020-10-13, with a mean of 2.2 calls per day. The latest value, for 2021-02-09, was 1 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2020-12-09 to 2020-12-29.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Dry bulk port calls, San Martin (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2020-09-305
2020-10-011
2020-10-022
2020-10-032
2020-10-041
2020-10-054
2020-10-061
2020-10-072
2020-10-082
2020-10-092
2020-10-105
2020-10-114
2020-10-123
2020-10-138
2020-10-141
2020-10-156
2020-10-161
2020-10-173
2020-10-184
2020-10-190
2020-10-200
2020-10-213
2020-10-223
2020-10-230
2020-10-241
2020-10-251
2020-10-261
2020-10-272
2020-10-282
2020-10-294
2020-10-302
2020-10-314
2020-11-013
2020-11-021
2020-11-030
2020-11-040
2020-11-052
2020-11-061
2020-11-071
2020-11-084
2020-11-093
2020-11-102
2020-11-110
2020-11-121
2020-11-131
2020-11-143
2020-11-152
2020-11-162
2020-11-171
2020-11-182
2020-11-193
2020-11-201
2020-11-213
2020-11-222
2020-11-234
2020-11-243
2020-11-252
2020-11-262
2020-11-274
2020-11-285
2020-11-292
2020-11-304
2020-12-010
2020-12-025
2020-12-031
2020-12-040
2020-12-050
2020-12-064
2020-12-071
2020-12-084
2020-12-092
2020-12-100
2020-12-111
2020-12-120
2020-12-130
2020-12-140
2020-12-150
2020-12-160
2020-12-171
2020-12-180
2020-12-190
2020-12-200
2020-12-210
2020-12-220
2020-12-230
2020-12-240
2020-12-250
2020-12-260
2020-12-270
2020-12-280
2020-12-290
2020-12-304
2020-12-313
2021-01-010
2021-01-021
2021-01-034
2021-01-044
2021-01-054
2021-01-062
2021-01-074
2021-01-086
2021-01-094
2021-01-104
2021-01-114
2021-01-124
2021-01-133
2021-01-144
2021-01-152
2021-01-162
2021-01-172
2021-01-186
2021-01-195
2021-01-203
2021-01-215
2021-01-223
2021-01-231
2021-01-243
2021-01-251
2021-01-262
2021-01-274
2021-01-282
2021-01-294
2021-01-302
2021-01-311
2021-02-013
2021-02-022
2021-02-034
2021-02-042
2021-02-051
2021-02-061
2021-02-073
2021-02-083
2021-02-091

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Replay

Replay: Dry bulk port calls, RosarioDry bulk port calls, Rosario, 2020-10-10 (10 October 2020) to 2021-01-08 (8 January 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2020-10-14 to 7 calls per day on 2020-10-15. The shaded band marks the event window, 2020-12-09 to 2020-12-29.024682020-10-102021-01-08
Dry bulk port calls, Rosario, 2020-10-10 (10 October 2020) to 2021-01-08 (8 January 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2020-10-14 to 7 calls per day on 2020-10-15. The shaded band marks the event window, 2020-12-09 to 2020-12-29.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Dry bulk port calls, Rosario (calls per day), daily values shown in the replay.
Datecalls per day
2020-10-103
2020-10-112
2020-10-122
2020-10-134
2020-10-140
2020-10-157
2020-10-163
2020-10-173
2020-10-183
2020-10-191
2020-10-200
2020-10-211
2020-10-221
2020-10-232
2020-10-244
2020-10-254
2020-10-260
2020-10-272
2020-10-284
2020-10-293
2020-10-301
2020-10-312
2020-11-010
2020-11-023
2020-11-030
2020-11-042
2020-11-051
2020-11-065
2020-11-075
2020-11-081
2020-11-091
2020-11-104
2020-11-111
2020-11-120
2020-11-132
2020-11-140
2020-11-151
2020-11-161
2020-11-175
2020-11-181
2020-11-191
2020-11-202
2020-11-213
2020-11-222
2020-11-236
2020-11-242
2020-11-250
2020-11-262
2020-11-271
2020-11-281
2020-11-292
2020-11-303
2020-12-010
2020-12-025
2020-12-030
2020-12-043
2020-12-052
2020-12-060
2020-12-072
2020-12-082
2020-12-096
2020-12-102
2020-12-111
2020-12-121
2020-12-131
2020-12-142
2020-12-151
2020-12-160
2020-12-171
2020-12-182
2020-12-191
2020-12-200
2020-12-211
2020-12-223
2020-12-232
2020-12-241
2020-12-250
2020-12-261
2020-12-270
2020-12-280
2020-12-293
2020-12-300
2020-12-312
2021-01-010
2021-01-023
2021-01-031
2021-01-044
2021-01-052
2021-01-060
2021-01-071
2021-01-085

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Timeline

  1. The oilseed workers' federation and the grain receivers' union URGARA begin an open ended national strike at 06:00, naming the employer chambers CIARA, CEC, CARBIO, CIAVEC and CPPC and demanding a higher minimum wage. [s1]
  2. The unions report that talks at the national labour ministry have ended without agreement and that the strike continues. [s2]
  3. Press reports that the stoppage has run for about 15 days and that grain and oilseed exports from the Rosario ports remain halted. [s4]
  4. After about 12 hours of talks at the national labour ministry the unions announce a settlement on day 21, with a new starting wage from 1 January 2021, an extraordinary payment and a bonus for workers who stayed on during the pandemic lockdown. [s3] [s5]
  5. Press reports that the oilseed unions and the grain receivers have lifted the strike, with 173 ships waiting to load. The federation says it remains on alert because the private ports chamber has not yet signed the agreement with URGARA. [s5] [s6]

Cause

The oilseed workers' federation, the San Lorenzo oilseed workers' union and the grain receivers' union URGARA called the strike over pay, saying they sought a minimum wage that met the standard of living set out in the Argentine constitution, after the employer chambers refused to negotiate on that basis. Attributed by: Federación de Trabajadores del Complejo Industrial Oleaginoso, Desmotadores de Algodón y Afines de la República Argentina. [s1] [s2]

Resolution

2020-12-29 (29 December 2020): The unions announced a settlement on 2020-12-29 after talks at the national labour ministry, ending the strike on its 21st day. Terms included a new starting wage from 1 January 2021, an extraordinary payment and a bonus for workers who continued during the pandemic lockdown. The grain receivers' agreement was formalised the next day. [s3] [s5] [s6]

Corrections

No corrections to this record as of 2026-09-16 (16 September 2026).

Sources

  1. [s1] Federación Aceitera, Huelga Nacional en la industria aceitera y de exportación de granos, published 2020-12-09 (9 December 2020), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  2. [s2] Federación Aceitera, Sin acuerdo: sigue la Huelga Nacional, published 2020-12-14 (14 December 2020), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  3. [s3] Federación Aceitera, Victoria de la Huelga Nacional en la Industria Aceitera y de Exportación de Granos, published 2020-12-29 (29 December 2020), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  4. [s4] Página/12, Navidad en paro en puertos rosarinos, published 2020-12-24 (24 December 2020), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (press)
  5. [s5] Infobae, Los gremios aceiteros acordaron una mejora salarial y levantarán el paro en los puertos exportadores tras 20 días de conflicto, published 2020-12-30 (30 December 2020), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (press)
  6. [s6] Federación Aceitera, Estado de Alerta por acuerdo de URGARA, published 2020-12-30 (30 December 2020), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)

Cite this record

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Plain text

World Freight Monitor. "Oilseed workers strike halts grain exports at Rosario area ports." Last updated 2026-09-16 (16 September 2026). https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2020/oilseed-workers-strike-rosario-ports-2020/

APA

World Freight Monitor. (2026). Oilseed workers strike halts grain exports at Rosario area ports. World Freight Monitor. https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2020/oilseed-workers-strike-rosario-ports-2020/

BibTeX

@misc{wfm_oilseed_workers_strike_rosario_ports_2020,
  author = {{World Freight Monitor}},
  title = {Oilseed workers strike halts grain exports at Rosario area ports},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Last updated 2026-09-16},
  url = {https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2020/oilseed-workers-strike-rosario-ports-2020/}
}