El Niño hammers LatAm perishables exports with port strikes, weather delays

Latin America's southern cone is reeling from a perfect storm of climate disruption and transport chaos that is reshaping perishables export dynamics in real time. El Niño-driven rainfall, hailstorms, and snow closures have decimated crop quality while simultaneously blocking overland routes and port access. A nine-day trucker strike at Chile's San Antonio port in early November forced the diversion of the inaugural Cherry Express shipment, highlighting structural vulnerabilities in cold chain logistics when climate and labor pressures collide.

The consequences ripple across the region's fruit export hierarchy. Peru's blueberry crop is forecast down 10 percent year-on-year despite a 15 percent acreage increase, creating an unexpected market opportunity for Chilean and Argentine growers. However, these southern competitors face compounding headwinds: infrastructure constraints (Ezeiza airport runway work reducing capacity), freight rate volatility (35 percent air surcharges observed), and persistent land border closures from Andean weather.

Industry leaders report cherry volumes starting up significantly weaker than historical norms. For supply chain professionals, this episode signals that climate-driven disruptions are no longer episodic risks but structural challenges requiring proactive scenario planning. The 90 percent port capacity utilization before the strike, combined with ten-day border closures during what should be routine operations, underscores how thin margins have become for time-sensitive agricultural exports.