Update: The parties involved have resolved their differences, with claims the port is back up and running. Readers can click here for more information.

A strike in the Chilean port of Valparaiso puts some fruit exporters at risk of not making to the U.S. in time for the Marketing Order cut-off date, prompting calls from industry for government intervention.

Local press reported around 500 workers started an indefinite strike yesterday at Valparaiso's Terminal, paralyzing operations between sites 1-5, thus affecting the entire port.

The workers began the strike claiming a series of demands made to operator Empresa Portuaria Valparaíso had not been resolved.

The Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX) expressed its strongest protest against the situation, which once again is affecting its constituents with "immeasurable damage" to fruit, along with a breach in trade commitments and further blows to the country's capability.

In a release sent yesterday, the group said it found it "incomprehensible" the players involved could not find a solution to a problem that had been brewing for several weeks.

"We call on all the authorities to make the effort to find a solution as soon as possible, with the aim of avoiding bigger consequences, as if the problem is not solved tomorrow the shipments will coincide with the application for the Marketing Order system, which affects their possibilities from a commercial point of view," ASOEX said.

"This is an additional proof that reinforces our conviction in that port institutions need to be reevaluated to avoid the recurrence of these unpleasant issues.

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