Strike continues at key Argentine grains port

* Workers continue demands for higher wages

* Rumors that strike over had pressured Chicago soy prices

BUENOS AIRES, March 24 - Argentine dockworkers continued a strike for a second day on Wednesday at two terminals in one of the country's main grain ports, a union leader told Reuters.

The workers have halted the loading and unloading of ships to demand higher wages. Talk about the strike has affected soy prices in Chicago.

Wednesday is a holiday in Argentina, and grains markets are closed. However, dock and ports workers would normally continue around the clock even on a holiday, the union leader said.

"The situation is the same as yesterday (Tuesday) ... I believe we will end up reaching an agreement, but for the time being we continue in our complaint," said Herme Juarez, a leader of the Port Workers Cooperative.

The strike began on Monday night and affected Quebraco terminal, owned by Cargill, and Terminal 6, owned by Bunge and Aceitera General Deheza, both in San Martin port about 500 km north of Buenos Aires, in Santa Fe province.

At the Chicago Board of Trade, talk that the strike was over had contributed to lower prices for soybeans.

The truckers' union, led by Hugo Moyano who also heads the country's biggest umbrella union, the CGT, also vowed to support the strike. He is an ally of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez.

Argentina is the world's No. 3 soybean exporter and the top supplier of oil and meal.

Strike threats are common at this time of year, when the soy and corn harvests begin and as unions press their wage demands amid rising inflation.

The port workers union wants exporting firms that operate in the terminals to raise tariffs so port workers can get a 100 percent salary hike.

Argentine farmers recently began the 2009/10 soy season which is expected to produce a record crop of 53 million tonnes, but a strike in the coming weeks could hit production and shipments.

Argentina's agricultural exports make up a large portion of the country's trade surplus. ($1 = 3.9 Argentine pesos)