by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

The Amazon basin is facing a serious water crisis, as record droughts and continued low rainfall are driving river levels to plummet.

In addition to below-average rainfall, wildfires damaged large areas of South America, including the Amazon and the Rio Negro rivers.

The Rio Negro, one of the primary tributaries of the Amazon River, plays a crucial role in transporting containerised cargo to supply the region’s port.

Populations that depend on this waterway for survival have been significantly impacted, as conditions impaired navigation and undermined the economy.

The Port of Manaus, which is the river port located at the Rio Negro River, recorded its lowest level since 1902 on Friday, 4 October, limiting grain exports and movement of essential supplies.

According to a Reuters report, Valmir Mendonca, the port's head of operations, said, "This is now the most severe drought in over 120 years of measurement at the Port of Manaus."

As a result, carriers such as CMA CGM, MSC and ONE imposed temporary Low Water Surcharge (LWS) on the freight of all containers to or from the port of Manaus as of 1 August 2024.