South America’s Rivers Hit Record Lows Amid Drought

The Paraguay River has reached a record low in Asuncion, Paraguay, due to a severe drought in Brazil, impacting navigation and grain shipments, VOA reported yesterday. Water levels have fallen below minus 0.82 meters, surpassing the previous record set in October 2021, according to the national Meteorology and Hydrology Directorate. The Parana River in Argentina is also near yearly lows, affecting trade routes for soy and corn.

The Paraguayan oilseed and grain crushing chamber, CAPPRO, reported that navigation in the northern Paraguay waterway is nearly halted, with vessels operating below normal capacity, causing delays. Paraguay ranks as the world’s third-largest soybean exporter, with about 80% of its grains transported via waterways.

Despite the upcoming October-November rainy season, forecasts indicate that rainfall will not be sufficient to raise river levels significantly. The La Nina phenomenon is expected to bring drier conditions in Paraguay and Argentina, complicating the situation further for communities and agriculture in the region.