# Amazon Drought Slows Grain Shipments

> Drought cuts Amazon river cargo to 70% capacity as El Niño intensifies.
- Title: Amazon Drought Slows Grain Shipments · valorinternational
- Summary: Drought cuts Amazon river cargo to 70% capacity as El Niño intensifies. Amazon drought reduces river cargo capacity to 70% while El Niño drives higher…
- Keywords: amazon drought, northern arc ports, el niño, soybean shipments, grain freight, tapajós river, madeira river, caramuru alimentos, itaituba port, brake germany, brazil, valorinternational
- Source: valorinternational — https://valorinternational.globo.com/agribusiness/news/2026/11/09/amazon-drought-cuts-grain-shipments-through-northern-arc-ports.ghtml
- Published: 2026-11-09T21:00:00.693+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: amazon drought, northern arc ports, el niño, soybean shipments, grain freight, tapajós river, madeira river, caramuru alimentos, itaituba port, brake germany, brazil, business
## Drought impacts river transport
Drought and El Niño-driven high temperatures reduce cargo volumes along Brazil’s Northern Arc waterways.
## River levels drop sharply
Water levels in Madeira and Tapajós rivers fell, cutting cargo capacity to 70% before recovering.
## Tapajós river hit hardest
Tapajós river operations run at 60% capacity despite stable water levels.
## Caramuru adjusts shipping
Caramuru Alimentos reduces barge loads but keeps deliveries on schedule through northern Brazil.
## Freight rates drop sharply
Grain freight from Sinop to Miritituba cost R$255.87 per tonne in October, down from R$307.63 in June.
## El Niño intensifies impact
NOAA estimates 83% chance El Niño will exceed all previous intensity by December.
## Key takeaway

Amazon drought reduces river cargo capacity to 70% while El Niño drives higher freight costs through northern Brazil.