Mississippi River Drought Causes Supply Chain Crisis in Key US Waterway

Taarek Refaat

Droughts closed part of the Mississippi River again, reducing part of the main US waterway at Memphis to an all-time low, disturbing U.S. trade route.

The average water in Memphis has fallen below zero, to 10.77 feet, down from the previous level of negative 10.70 recorded in 1988, according to data from the National Weather Service.

Drought and extreme weather are straining global trade across parts of the world. The water levels of the Mississippi and Rhine rivers in Europe have shrunk this year, and the current weather in La Nina has caused severe flooding in Pakistan and Australia.

Drought-stricken Mississippi River

In Mississippi, shipping costs are rising, and thousands of boats are delayed in low-water areas. The drying up of the Mississippi River pushes companies to transport goods by rail.

The river was closed Monday about 125 miles (201 kilometers) northeast of Memphis, near Hickman, Kentucky, due to dredging operations to remove debris from the river bed, with three ships and 51 barges still stuck in the Hickman, according to the US Coast Guard.

Drought-stricken Mississippi River over the years

"We're seeing some signs of a little rain with cold waves coming into the country, but there's no way out of the current low river crisis," said Jeff Graschel, a hydrologist with the Lower Mississippi River Prediction Center, adding "But there is no way out of the current river crisis."

Meantime, a 9th-century Trading Ship was uncovered in drought-stricken Mississippi River.