Paraguay grains ships cut loads, face delays as river levels drop

ASUNCION: Grains ships and vessels transporting other products on the Paraguay River are loading at around half capacity due to a historic drought that has hit river levels in the South American region, hurting trade of key agricultural commodities.

Industry insiders said that many cargo holds on ships were being left empty, travel times were being delayed and farmers in the world's fourth-largest exporter of soybeans were having to hold on longer to grains that they couldn't ship. "The situation is critical and delicate," César Jure, president of the Paraguayan Chamber of Cereal and Oilseed Exporters, told Reuters.