From valorinternational · · 1m
Amazon Drought Slows Grain Shipments
Drought cuts Amazon river cargo to 70% capacity as El Niño intensifies.
In brief
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 freight costs through northern Brazil. Originally reported by valorinternational.
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.
The takeaway
Amazon drought reduces river cargo capacity to 70% while El Niño drives higher freight costs through northern Brazil.
