September 9th 2023
Mendoza Potash mine
National Holidays: Friday October 13th and Monday October 16th.
Grains and Markets:
South Korea (KFA) has purchased 55,000 tons maize, options ECSA or SAfrica, mid November dates.
The Government have announced the fourth soya bean dollar “bonus” season. In this case the mechanism is different since there will be no preferential exchange rate. This time round exporters will be able to retain 25 per cent of the proceeds from exports as USD cash, i.e. they will not have to sell the total amount of USD to the Central Bank and be paid Arg Pesos at the official exchange rate. The USD may be used as a reserve.
The Rosario Trade Exchange are estimating that trading under this window will encompass a volume of 11,000,000 tons of soya beans.
Tugboat and Stevedore strike:
Svitzer tugboat crews went on strike today September 05th as from 12:00 hours local time. The tugboat crews are protesting layoffs by the company.
At Upriver tugboat services are being rendered normally since Svitzer has no owned-managed vessels in that area.
In Buenos Aires port all Svitzer tugs were stopped, but other companies are working normally.
Necochea was without any tugboat service. The port has only two tugboats, one belongs to Svitzer and the other to Artug. Since tow tugs are required for all services all entries, departures and maneuvers were halted.
At Bahia Blanca all tugboats stopped and for good measure the stevedores have joined in “sympathy”. Therefore there was no activity in the port during theernoon.
Effective 17:30 hours the strike was lifted when the Government enforced a compulsory truce for the next 15 days.
Mendoza Potash mine:
The Mendoza Government is taking in bids for the re-starting of the potash mine at Rio Colorado. The original project was started by Vale but closed down in 2013 because of a change in market conditions. It is located in the same area as the Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas deposits. Exports will be shipped through Bahia Blanca. At this moment three firm bids are being considered by the provincial Government. Once production is underway, estimated during 2026, an annual production of 1,500,000 tons is expected to be achieved.
Bunker deliveries at Zona Comun:
STS BUNKER AT ZONA COMUN FOR NEXT DAYS:
As always, the STS operation is up to the discretion of the Master’s of the vessels involved.
Will keep you posted.
Best regards,
Antares Servicios Maritimos S.A.
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