Oct 15, 2024
Water Levels on Paraguay River Lowest on Record
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Water levels on the Paraguay River continue to decline. According to the Environmental Institute of Mato Grosso do Sul (Imasul), the water level is the lowest since monitoring the river started in 1900. The levels have been dropping 1 to 2 centimeters every day, aggravating the situation. Barging operations have been suspended on the river until water levels improve.
The Paraguay River is the main transportation route for soybeans produced in Paraguay and exported from ports near Rosario, Argentina. Some soybeans produced in western Mato Grosso do Sul and southwestern Mato Grosso also are transported to Rosario via the Paraguay River. The Brazilian soybeans could be rerouted to other export facilities in Brazil, but it would be much harder to reroute the Paraguayan exports.
Low water levels are also impacting the economic livelihood of communities along the river that rely on the river for transportation, tourism, and fishing.