Vessels can only load up to 35% of capacity due to low water level in Paraguay-Paraná river system

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The shipowners’ association Centro de Armadores Fluviales y Marítimos del Paraguay (Cafym) reported that its vessels could only load up to 35% of their respective hold capacities, due to the critical situation of the levels of the Paraguay and Paraná rivers.

According to La Nación, the sector’s president, Esteban Dos Santos, explained that this situation is causing losses and delays in various economic sectors that import and export goods to multiple markets worldwide.

Read also: Check out our coverage on Paraguay

He further explained that north of Asunción, barge navigation was practically impossible. However, south of the capital, on the Paraguay River, the draft limitation is 8 feet (approximately 2.65 meters), which is why vessels must be loaded in smaller quantities.

“Only a few vessels arrive as far as Villeta or Asunción, while the vast majority unload at ports located in the city of Pilar”, explained the president of Cafym. He added that despite the adverse conditions, the transportation of goods is carried out but to a lesser extent, the reason why river shipowners register a negative impact of more than US$300 million from the beginning of 2020 to the present.

Regarding cargoes, the most significant amount transported corresponds to soybean grains produced in Paraguay. In addition, there are iron ore cargoes from Brazil, grain shipments from Bolivia, and fuel imports from Paraguay.

In these months, we have transported cargoes at lower levels than expected. However, it is higher than in the same period last year”, said the president of the shipowner’s association.