Brazilian authorities Monday decreed a state of water shortage in the basins of five major rivers nationwide. The critical situation affects some 2,264 million km², it was explained. It was the first time in over 100 gauging these water levels that such an extreme measure has been adopted.
The Argentine administration of President Javier Milei decreed a 63% hike in the tolls collected from barges sailing through the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway effective this month. The adjustment set a new price of US$ 4.98 (from the previous US$ 3.06) per Net Register Ton (NRT). The figure is projected to reach US$ 6.04 per TRN in 2027.
Paraguay's Congress will be asked to declare a hydrological emergency in the Paraná River to speed up dredging after members of the Paraná Joint Commission (Comip) discussed the hydro-climatological last week and agreed on the next actions, Merchant Marine Director Patricio Ortega explained in Asunción.
Paraguayan exports of soybeans are gaining steam, according to shipment data provided by Marine Link. Farmers are accelerating sales due to a stronger global market and higher prices for the oil seed.
Water levels below average at the Paraná-Paraguay river waterway have traders concerned over the future of their business. However, there seems to be consensus on the need to develop a master plan to tackle the grim situation stemming from discouraging precipitation forecasts despite abundant rainfall in recent weeks.
The administration of Argentine president Javier Milei announced last week plans for a US$550 million investment to build a new port in the Rosario region, the country's major grains and oilseeds hub.
The Liberian-flagged freighter En May was removed on Friday from one of the pillars of the Zárate-Brazo Largo bridge that connects the Argentine provinces of Buenos Aires and Entre Ríos, where she got stuck after losing her steering capabilities last Sunday. Full navigation was thus restored on the Paraná River waterway.
As has happened with the mighty Paraná River in the heartland of South America, with the Amazon in northern South America, and even with the Panama Canal, all of them suffering lack of rainfall to keep basins flowing with sufficient water levels, now has come the turn of the Mississippi with insufficient draft for the vessels and barges involved in transporting US grains.
A Paraguayan naval officer and two civilians were arrested Wednesday by the Argentine Coast Guard (PNA) following an incident at around 3 pm in the Paraná River near the PNA's Puerto Maní (Misiones) delegation that resulted in the seizure of a Paraguayan Navy vessel allegedly trying to smuggle fuel to the Paraguayan side.
Argentina's Energy Secretary Flavia Royon said Wednesday that Paraguay had recognized her country's right to charge a fee (toll) to barges sailing along the Parana River Waterway and that the issue at this point was to discuss the price, for which a technical commission will be instated to assess the crossed claims between the neighboring countries for debts related to the Yacyretá Binational Entity (EBY).