Brazil’s booming soybean exports are facing major shipping delays as Indigenous protests and poor road conditions disrupt shipments from the strategic Amazon port of Miritituba, a critical hub for global traders like Cargill and Bunge.
The Munduruku Indigenous group has blockaded sections of the Transamazonian Highway near Miritituba for two weeks, cutting off an estimated 70,000 tons of soybeans per day (worth ~$30 million) from reaching barges bound for export. The protests—sparked by a land rights dispute—have triggered violent clashes with truckers and left some shipments stranded for three days.
Key Impacts:
Trade War Fallout: The disruptions come as China pivots from US soybeans to Brazilian supplies amid escalating tariffs, raising concerns over global supply chain stability.
Export Bottleneck: Miritituba handled 15M tons of soy/corn in 2024 (10% of Brazil’s total). Volumes were expected to rise 20% this year—now in jeopardy.
Industry Alarm: Grain groups Abiove, Aprosoja, and ATP warn the blockades also threaten food, fuel, and medical deliveries to remote regions.
Root of the Conflict:
The Munduruku are protesting a 2023 law that limits Indigenous land claims, demanding Brazil’s Supreme Court intervene. “Our fight is peaceful, but we face gunshots and threats from truckers,” said community representatives. Meanwhile, agribusiness lobbies push back, fearing more protests if land rights expand.