Freight forwarders and industrialists warned of the impact of road blockades by peasant organizations on the costs of distribution and supply of products.
“The delays generated by the paralysis of transportation directly impact the costs of distribution and delivery of various products, slow down the national supply and damage the country’s exports, which today are the only engine of the economy that maintains a good pace of activity, in addition to imports,” said the president of the Mexican Association of Freight Forwarders (Amacarga), Eva María Muñoz.
The organization recognized in a statement the legitimate right to free demonstration and defense of the interests of the sectors involved, but indicated that it is unacceptable that they harm other economic activities in the country by strangling communication routes.
“Amacarga categorically rejects these methods of pressure that harm third parties, companies and sectors,” he added.
He called on federal and state authorities to find a prompt solution to restore the transportation of products within the country and to distribution points for international markets.
The Association of Industrialists of the State of Michoacán (AIEMAC) stated that the closures of road sections are reported in Jalisco, Michoacán and Guanajuato, with effects on highways such as Maravatío-Zapotlanejo and in the Zinapécuaro, Panindícuaro and Ecuandureo toll booths.
He added that in particular the closure of the road that connects Morelia-Guadalajara generates a prolonged interruption, and the Siglo XXI Highway is also affected.
He explained that the manufacturing industry, supply chains, freight transportation and the hotel and tourism sectors of Michoacán are in a state of alert.
He expressed that blockages interrupt the fluid transit of raw materials, inputs and finished products, which can lead to bottlenecks, higher operating costs, delivery failures and productivity losses.
More context: Corn producers block roads in at least 17 entities
He added that goods transiting by road to and from the port of Lázaro Cárdenas may be seriously affected, compromising the export and import flow of North America.
The AIEMAC asked the state government for a direct line of communication to receive timely information about the affected sections and alternative routes, as well as security and to negotiate with the protesters the possibility of opening roads for a certain time.
The organization highlighted that this situation also affects the tourism sector in one of the seasons with the greatest impact for Michoacán, with risks of cancellations and lower arrivals of visitors. Likewise, he warned about the situation of people trapped for more than 19 hours in the blockades, whose health could be compromised due to lack of food or medicine.
Since Monday, peasant organizations have been demanding that the federal government establish a guaranteed price for a ton of corn, as well as better marketing conditions for their crops.
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