San Antonio port trucker blockades in Chile

Independent truckers in San Antonio, led by the Agrupación de Camioneros Independientes de San Antonio (Agreporsai), initiated an indefinite blockade of container depots and port terminals, including San Antonio Terminal Internacional and DP World. The mobilization was driven by rising fuel costs, frozen transport tariffs, and opposition to the Route 78 expansion project, specifically the installation of new electronic toll gantries.

The initial strike paralyzed cargo movement in the Malvilla sector, affecting approximately 200 containers in depots and suspending unloading operations for 600 containers from docked vessels. By the following week, the blockades continued as drivers sought transparency in tariff structures. The protests caused logistical disruptions, forcing two vessels to divert to the port of Valparaíso.

On November 4, 2026, truckers reached a definitive agreement with major cargo generators to end the eight-day blockade, which had begun on October 28. The resolution followed mediation by the Regional Presidential Delegation and the Ministry of Economy. During the strike, over 4,500 containers accumulated awaiting processing. Following the agreement, transport workers began removing machinery from access routes to allow for the resumption of freight operations.

In response to the conflict, Chilean senators Camila Flores and Paulina Núñez have proposed a bill to regulate contracting conditions for small truckers. The proposed legislation includes mandatory 30-day payment terms and pre-agreed kilometer rates.