A prolonged drought in the Amazon Basin has reduced the depth of the Amazon River to the lowest recorded in a century.  River depth at Manaus fell to 45 feet compared to 53 feet in mid-October 2022.

The drought is in part attributed to the El Nino event and will persist into 2024.  Residents of villages along the Amazon River and its tributaries have been impacted by low water levels. The situation has deprived many farmers and fishermen of their livelihoods.

Drought in the region will also seriously reduce shipment of grain and oilseeds from both Brazil and Argentine as vessels receive diminished cargos to navigate shallower river channels.  This is a developing situation paralleling the low water levels in the Mississippi River System and will inevitably result in an increase in the price of commodities worldwide.