Dwindling Mississippi Grounds Barges, Threatens Shipments
- Largest barge operator in the US declares force majeure
- River isn’t set to see replenishing rainfalls anytime soon
A towboat pushes barges up the Mississippi River in Granite City, Illinois.
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
A logjam of more than 100 ships, tugboats and their convoys of barges in the shrinking Mississippi River is threatening to grind trade of grains, fertilizer, metals and petroleum to a halt.
The largest US barge operator warned customers it won’t be able to make good on deliveries. Ingram Barge Co. declared force majeure in a letter to customers due to “near-historic” low water conditions on the Mississippi, the top route to get US grains and soybeans to the world market.