Shipping companies warn of damage from labor dispute at Uruguay port — MercoPress
Five major shipping companies operating at the Port of Montevideo in Uruguay have appealed to the country’s government over a labor dispute at the Terminal Cuenca del Plata container terminal. In a letter to six ministers, they said the dispute was causing serious economic and commercial damage and harming Uruguay’s international reputation.
As MercoPress reports, the September 22 letter was signed by Maersk Uruguay, Ocean Network Express, CMA CGM Uruguay, Cosco Shipping Lines, and Hapag-Lloyd Uruguay. The document was received on September 24 by the ministries of economy, labor, transport and public works, industry, agriculture, and foreign affairs.
More than 35 days of disruptions
The companies reported extreme uncertainty and paralysis in the operations of the specialized container terminal. According to their data, there have been more than 35 days of operational disruptions of various kinds since the beginning of 2026.
According to the letter’s authors, indefinite strikes forced carriers to cancel vessel calls and unload imports at other ports in the region. They said this resulted in unforeseen costs and complicated the fulfillment of obligations to exporters, importers, and trucking companies. The companies also reported the loss of transshipment cargo and called on the authorities to urgently find a solution to restore predictability in port operations.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Dispute over agreement term
Terminal Cuenca del Plata, whose controlling stake is owned by the Belgian group Katoen Natie, handles around 80% of containers at the Port of Montevideo. The labor dispute with the port workers’ union has continued for several months following the expiration of the previous collective agreement.
The parties agreed on most provisions of the new contract but failed to reach an agreement on its term. The company insists on a five-year agreement, while the union is ready to sign a three-year document and demands better conditions in the event of a longer term.
On September 17, the Uruguayan government declared the terminal’s services essential in order to guarantee its minimum operation. The union viewed this as a restriction on the right to strike and carried out the work stoppage scheduled for September 24 in Montevideo and Nueva Palmira. At a tripartite meeting at the National Labor Directorate, the parties considered the government’s proposal, but did not report reaching an agreement.
