Truckers in Brazil were blocking only a few roads Tuesday afternoon as the ongoing truckers strike waned, but soybean futures were down, according to reports.
Truck drivers are now focusing their attention on Brasilia, and a key highway in the largest soybean state, Mato Grosso, had opened after two weeks of protests. There were only seven protests remaining that affected federal highways, down from 18 on Monday and more than 100 a week ago.
Truckers opened the BR-163 highway in Mato Grosso for the first time since February 17, as they focused on talks in the nation’s capital.
“It’s a truce due to the meeting this Tuesday in Brasilia,” said Mato Grosso trucker Junior Boscoli.
More than 500 trucks have arrived at Paranagua, Brazil’s second-largest soy exporting port, guaranteeing exports at least through Thursday. May soybean future prices were down 0.76 percent. The strike also has cost the country’s pork and poultry industries US$241 million, according to ABPA.
Reports said 70 percent of operations at the Rio Grande port were affected by the strike. A spokesman said the port will finish an analysis of grain stocks by Thursday, but that it is not at risk of running out before then.
