With the Parana crucial waterway again beginning to suffer the consequences of lack of a sufficient water level, making the loading of cereals and oil seeds at the main Argentine exporting port of Rosario, it is estimated that in the remaining months of the year, Bahía Blanca directly on the Atlantic will be receiving probably half a million tons of additional grains to dispatch.
Trade sailing through the Paraná Waterway collapsed for 12 hours Saturday between San Nicolás and Ramallo when the Croatian-flagged bulk carrier AP Revelin ran aground, thus hindering traffic both ways as low water levels keep affecting business. In this scenario, several barges were advised not to set sail.
The governments of Paraguay and Argentina have reached an understanding regarding the collection of tolls on the latter's part for the use of the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway, it was announced.
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.
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.
Argentine authorities signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United States whereby the latter's Army Corps of Engineers would get involved in maintenance duties along the Paraná-Paraguay River Waterway, it was reported. US Ambassador to Buenos Aires Marc Stanley was present at the ceremony involving the Argentine agency managing the waterway and the General Ports Administration (AGP).
The Liberian-flagged freighter “En May” Sunday crashed onto one of the pillars of the Zárate-Brazo Largo bridge linking the Argentine provinces of Buenos Aires and Entre Ríos, which affected barge traffic along the Paraná River waterway, it was reported. Two tugboats were deployed to free up traffic, it was also explained.
Foreign Minister Diana Mondino of Argentina and Rubén Ramírez of Paraguay discussed Wednesday in Asunción the issue of collecting a toll for the use of the Paraná waterway, the binational Yacyretá hydroelectric plant, and other bilateral matters in a sitdown on the sides of the Mercosur gathering.
Argentina's future government of President-elect Javier Milei intends to privatize the Paraná Paraguay Waterway and bidding documents have already been drafted, but collecting tolls would remain in place, it was reported Thursday in Buenos Aires. Future Infrastructure Minister Guillermo Ferraro is said to have been working on the issue for weeks.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña and Argentina's President-elect Javier Milei held a telephone conversation Monday during which they discussed bilateral issues. The Libertarian economist extended an invitation to Peña to attend his inauguration on Dec. 10 in Buenos Aires, which was accepted.