Heatwave Dries River, Barges Slow Shipments

The Río Esperanto has fallen to its lowest level in 30 years, forcing barge operators along Tierra Verde's main waterway to reduce cargo loads by up to 40 percent, according to the regional transport authority. The low water, caused by a prolonged heatwave that has gripped the region since mid-July, is slowing the movement of coffee and yerba mate from interior farms to the railhead at San Vicente.

Barge captain Mateo Ríos, who has worked the river for two decades, said he has never seen the channel this shallow. "We used to run three barges at full load this time of year," Ríos said. "Now we run two, and we still scrape the bottom in the narrows near Yvoty."

The slowdown comes as the region's coffee harvest enters its peak season, with growers already facing soft prices at the federal exchange. Transport costs are rising as operators run more trips with lighter loads, and some cooperatives are considering shifting shipments to trucks, a more expensive option on the region's rural roads.

The Federal Hydrological Service has warned that river levels could fall further if the heatwave persists into August, and the regional government is weighing emergency measures to keep the harvest moving.