Brazil's truck drivers protest against high fuel prices

The Brazilian truck drivers protesting the high fuel prices have not disrupted the country's logistics as no federal highways or ports have been blocked, the infrastructure ministry said on Monday.

Citing data from the Federal Police for motorways, which was updated around noon, the ministry's latest statement on the ongoing protests said there was only one place where the truck drivers were still demonstrating - the BR-116 motorway in the city of Barra Mansa.

There are no blockades and truck drivers who do not take part in the protests can continue their journeys, the statement said.

Rising diesel prices have contributed to double-digit inflation in Brazil, hurting economic recovery from the world's second largest coronavirus epidemic and increasing the prospect of a major truck strike like the one that paralyzed the roads in 2018.

Dealing with high fuel prices is a top priority for far-right President Jair Bolsonaro as he seeks to regain some of his popularity ahead of next year's general election. He has long been a supporter of the Brazilian truck drivers, who are an important part of his following.

According to the infrastructure ministry, the Brazilian ports and fuel distribution centers were not affected by the demonstrations.

However, there was a demonstration by truck drivers in the early hours of the morning in the port of Santos, during which the police intervened and evicted the demonstrators without any arrests.

"The autonomous truck drivers are demanding what they are entitled to," said Romero Costa, director of the Sindicam union, referring to wages, pensions and high fuel costs. "We have not blocked any roads."

The Santos port authorities did not immediately provide a comment.

According to a statement by the shipping agency Cargonave, a Brazilian court banned truck drivers from blocking port entrances and main roads. Therefore, the cargo arrived normally in Santos, the largest port in Latin America.

Monday's protests are unlikely to gain force, largely because they are not supported by all truckers' unions, Cargonave said in a statement, adding that all of Brazil's major ports are operating normally.