Paraguayan trucker strikes start to alarm nation's bean farmers

A strike by Paraguayan truckers that started on Monday remained in force Thursday and has begun to concern the country’s soybean farmers who are struggling to get their crops to storage facilities and ports.

The Paraguayan Truckers Union reported that the strike had roughly 90% adherence from the country’s drivers and is a response to the government’s recent decision to allow trucks with bi-trains, or two trailers, to operate in the country starting on February 20.

The union said its members were concerned that allowing bigger loads will require modifications to their vehicles and could cost local drivers work.

Truckers also want to renegotiate freight rates with the government.

“The strike is affecting everyone,” Hector Cristaldo, head of the Paraguayan Grain Producers Association said. “Transport of soybeans is very important during the peak of harvest.”

Both Brazilian and Paraguayan truckers operate on both sides of the two countries’ borders hauling soybeans and corn between the country’s ports and farms.

Brazil has for several years allowed the use of bi-train trailers on trucks.

Paraguay is the world's fourth largest soybean exporter, exporring 6.2 million mt of its 10.7 million mt soybean harvest in 2016/17.

It is expected to harvest 9.4 million mt of soybeans this season and export 6 million mt of them, according to the USDA.