Argentina's maritime pilots strike halts the country's grain exports

A strike by Argentina's maritime pilots has prevented ships from entering or leaving the country's grain ports along the Parana River since Monday, 12 Mordad 1405 (3 August 2026). According to Al Jazeera, Argentina is the world's largest exporter of soybean products and a major exporter of corn and wheat, so any bottleneck at its ports affects global food markets. The strike began after the government of President Javier Milei issued a decree on Friday, 9 Mordad (31 July), deregulating river pilotage services.

Gustavo Idigoras, president of the CIARA-CEC business chamber, said on X that at least 45 vessels had been affected by the protest. Argentina's coastguard on Tuesday, 13 Mordad, ordered the pilots back to work through a notice in the official gazette, warning of possible disciplinary sanctions.