Port and Labor Disruptions Converge on Global Perishable Export Routes
A potential LA/Long Beach dockworkers strike, a Chilean haulier blockade and surging air freight rates are squeezing cold-chain exports on three continents simultaneously.
Three separate disruptions hit perishable export chains in early November 2026. At the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, ILWU Local 26 watchmen extended their contract to 4 November under federal mediation; industry bodies warn that even a brief strike by terminal security staff could disrupt refrigerated meat exports routed via Oakland. In Chile, haulier association Agreporsai has blockaded a San Antonio depot since 28 October, leaving more than 3,000 containers unable to move and about 200 trucks idle, threatening cherry exports at the start of a season that shipped 16,500 containers last year.
Air freight adds pressure: China–US rates rose 9 percent week-on-week to US$7.76 per kilogram, near annual peaks on seasonal perishable volumes. Freight analysts note the combined effect could raise costs and delay protein and fruit deliveries into Asian markets, including Indonesia, ahead of the holiday season.