# River-transportation headaches return

> Extreme drought in the Midwest is drawing down Mississippi River levels for a third year, with the Lower Mississippi nearly 10 feet below its historic average at Memphis as of September 24. Dry conditions have returned to the Ohio River basin, which supplies more water to the Mississippi than any other tributary. Load restrictions are raising costs for companies moving fuel and grain downriver.

- Date: 2024-09-01 · published 2024-09-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: weather · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16512-river-transportation-headaches-return
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md)

## Why it matters

Drought-driven river restrictions increase downstream transport costs and push shippers toward trucks and rail, which supports barge freight rates.

## Read by commodity

- BARGE: bullish ▲

## Sources

- waterwayscouncil.org: https://waterwayscouncil.org/media/in-the-news/article/2024/09/river-transportation-headaches-return

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.