Andean weather disruptions and Chilean supply shortages

Heavy rains and severe weather in the Andes have caused significant infrastructure damage and border closures, disrupting supply chains in Chile. Initial reports indicated that damaged roads and bridges were hindering the transport of agricultural products, leading to warnings from economists that reduced input flows would raise the cost of fruits and vegetables.

As the situation progressed, the scale of the disruption grew, with more than 3,000 trucks stranded at various border crossings for approximately 27 days. These delays have specifically threatened meat supplies from Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil, raising concerns about price hikes ahead of the Fiestas Patrias holidays. The Confederation of Camioneros Centro-Sur has warned that if the shortage of imported meat continues, demand will shift to the domestic market, likely driving up local prices.

At the Pino Hachado pass, nearly 1,000 trucks have been stalled, while authorities in Las Lajas have implemented a staggered departure system to manage queues on snow-covered routes. The crisis has also resulted in human fatalities, including a Brazilian driver at the Jama pass and a resident of Mendoza at Pino Hachado. Reopening the routes remains dependent on clearing Chilean roads and the deployment of snow-removal machinery in Argentina.