In Brazil, in May, drought cut the minimum draught on the Tietê-Paraná inland waterway from 2.7m to 2.2m. Because of this, barge convoys had to reduce loads from 6,000 tonnes to 4,000 tonnes, adding a further 140 road trips to carry outstanding cargo. As a result, just 90% of traffic carried in 2013 used the system in early 2014.
Since then, the draught has been further reduced to 1.7m, meaning that only seven of 21 barge trains that work the waterway have been able to continue transporting cargo.The stretch experiencing levels of low water carries significant soya, millet and soya pellets from Mato Grosso and Goiás to Pederneiras in São Paulo state, from where it goes by rail to the port of Santos.
BC