Weather and trade issues lie in the way of Paraguay's river trade, which is causing concern in Asunción for a country whose economy is heavily dependent on these waterways.
Paraguayan shipping companies and authorities expressed their concern Tuesday after the downspout at the Paraguay River nears its third consecutive all-time low.
Argentina's Transport Ministry Monday announced that its General Ports Administration (AGP) will continue to be in charge of the Paraná-Paraguay Waterway after extending the current contract which expires Sept. 11.
Argentina has announced that it will extend the Water Emergency Crisis warning for another six months due to insufficient rainfall in the Paraná, Paraguay, and Iguazú river basins.
Paraguayan authorities have reported the Paraguay River is merely 9 centimeters from its all-time low as it dropped yet another 3 centimeters Friday in Asunción.
A Chinese company entered the competition to manage a section of the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway, joining four European companies seeking to win the concession to deepen the draft and provide maintenance on approximately 1,238 kilometers of the river course beginning in 2021.
The Government of Paraguay reported that approximately 40,000 people have been displaced since March as a consequence of the recent floods in the country.
Floods have killed nine people and driven tens of thousands of people from their homes while swelling rivers to record levels in southern Brazil and neighboring Paraguay and Argentina, authorities said Tuesday.
Paraguayan president Federico Franco replied to his Uruguayan peer Jose Mujica ironic remarks saying that ‘evidently he’s good at geography; I guess he passed with the highest grades’ since he is aware that Paraguay is a landlocked ‘Mediterranean’ country.
Thousands of flesh-eating piranhas have infested a Brazilian river beach popular with tourists, biting at least 15 unwary swimmers. One of the bathers lost the tip of their toe during a frenzied attack.