South American drought affects navigation and grain exports
The South American drought isn’t just threatening crops, but it’s also making it difficult to haul them on the continent’s waterways.
The waterways of South America are drying up due to the prolonged drought in the region, making it difficult for vessels to carry full loads of wheat, corn, and soybean, reports Reuters.
The situation is particularly bad in Paraguay, where authorities have asked neighbouring Brazil to release water from the giant Itaipu hydroelectric dam after vessels have run aground, and logjams are forming in river ports because ships and barges can’t move.
The region’s waterway crisis highlights the growing impact climate change and deforestation are having on both the ability to grow crops and to get them to market.
Argentina and Paraguay ship about 80% of their grain exports by river. “This will be a difficult year for navigation,” said Esteban dos Santos, head of the Shipowners Association of Paraguay. “Navigation channels are getting smaller and shallower every day.”
