San Antonio port strike threatens Chilean cherry supplies 

A trucker strike at the Port of San Antonio is causing logistical trouble at a most sensitive time for the Andean country’s ag industry. 

According to local media outlet The Clinic, the strike is led by a cohort of 40 workers who have put over 200 trucks out of commission at the maritime point of entry. The union is calling for more support, citing stalled freight fees, rising gas prices, and new charges on Route 78, the main highway connecting the port and the Chilean capital of Santiago.  

The strike comes at a critical time for the country’s cherry industry. The first sea shipments of the fruit, Chile’s top ag export, were set to sail for China on the first Cherry Express on Monday, November 9th, with loading operations scheduled for the weekend. Industry body Frutas de Chile even had to cancel the inaugural ceremony for the 2026/27 cherry season, scheduled for Thursday, November 5th, where local authorities and the Chinese ambassador in Chile were expected to attend. 

Over 30 truckers are currently blocking container terminals and storage facilities at the Port of San Antonio, complicating efforts to move the fresh load to the nearby Port of Valparaiso. The move was confirmed by Frutas de Chile president Ivan Marambio, who emphasized that the decision would not only raise costs for exporters but also greatly impact San Antonio's local economy.

Image by FFP.com

“The situation is extremely serious for the industry,” he said in a statement. "Practically half of Chilean fruit is exported through San Antonio.” 

The Chilean cherry industry has had a challenging start this year. Storms, hail, winds, and overall abnormal weather across the country's growing regions have affected yield and fruit condition.

Protect Chilean cherry exports amid a port strike

The leader said they are closely monitoring developments at the port and issued an urgent call to find a solution through dialogue.

“It’s essential to remember that we work with perishable products, whose quality and condition depend on an efficient and timely logistics chain,” Marambio said. “We’re making an urgent call to all the parties involved to reach a prompt solution that allows the restoration of normal port operations, protects our exports, and fulfills the commitments made with international markets.”

According to Frutas de Chile data, fruit production is the country's second-largest export sector after copper. The 2025/26 season brought the Andean country $8.2 billion in revenue and moved over three million tons of fruit overseas.

*All images courtesy of the Port of San Antonio unless stated otherwise.

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