South America’s largest port, Santos of Brazil, has been hard hit by strike action by the nation’s customs officials, which has intensified as it enters its eighth week.
The strike is also causing severe delays to carriers, with containers missing their sailings and racking up detention and demurrage fees, according to the Sao Paulo and Santos Ship agents Association (Sindamar).
Brazilian fruit and coffee exporters seem to be among those worst hit by the strike and “Go Slows,” which started in earnest on November 1; shipper associations for these sectors have vented their spleens over the affair.
Cecafe, the Brazilian coffee exporters association, said its members too were suffering, especially in Santos, where delays of between four and eight days were reported.
