Low water levels on the Paraná River in Argentina are forcing exporters to reduce cargo sizes, the local head of logistics was quoted as saying in a Reuters report on 15 July.
“Handymax ships are leaving port with 9,250 tonnes less cargo than normal and Panamax ships 11,350 tonnes less,” Argentina's Chamber of Port and Maritime Activities (CAPyM) manager Guillermo Wade said in a 14 July interview.
About 80% of Argentina's agricultural exports are shipped from the agricultural port hubs of Rosario on the Paraná, according to the report.
Environmental groups told Reuters they are concerned about the impact of dredging the river below a certain depth.
The shallowness of the Paraná threatens to cost the country's grains farmers and exporters almost US$315M over a six-month period to August, the Rosario grains exchange was reported by Reuters as saying.
Argentina is the world’s leading exporter of soya meal used for animal feed and is the third largest exporter of corn, according to Reuters.
