The Mississippi River is the longest river in North America and the third largest river in the world after the Amazon River and the Congo River. It runs through the Central Great Plains and flows through 10 states including Iowa and Illinois. The river basin covers more than 40% of the continental area of the United States and is famous for its important role in industrial and agricultural transportation in the United States.

the Mississippi River is still at historically low levels, causing significant delays and limiting the load of each barge to avoid running too deep in the water and running aground, according to the carrier of the U.S. Inland Waterway System Transportation Project and Bulk Cargo. A report by the American Commercial Barge Line (ABCL) on Monday indicated that river conditions were hampering navigation with severity not seen since 1988.

Mike Little, managing director of Float Freight, a barge transportation company in Houston,, said: "Barge projects and bulk cargo usually travel north from the lower Mississippi River. The channel of the Mississippi River is about 30 percent narrower than normal, and low water has forced barges to be lightly loaded. The main problem is in the lower Mississippi River below Cairo, Illinois, where there are no sluices to help control the flow."

water levels in some areas are at their lowest levels since 2012. Affected by the drop of water level, the route of barge transportation in some downstream reaches is interrupted, and some barges are stranded. Forecasts suggest the Mississippi River could reach record low water levels before winter.
the Mississippi River as the north-south artery of inland transportation in the United States, the low water level affects the transportation of various commodities including grain, fertilizer, coal and so on.

Within the United States, barges are the primary means of transporting goods, especially agricultural products, by river. Moreover, this is the most critical time of the year. Most barges traveling south at this time of year carry agricultural products, and barges sailing north carry fertilizer for farmers to plant food next time. Croley, a heavy and oversized salesperson for the Ceres Barge Line, said that in a normal year, a massive tug of up to 30 barges would carry soybeans and other agricultural products southbound. He said the barges were carrying 1,500 to 1,600 short tons of bulk cargo instead of 2,100 to 2,200 short tons because the river's normal 12-foot draft was down to 9 feet.

because of drought-related delays, shippers need to plan ahead and allow more time, especially if they need to use funnels or covered barges, because the shortage "is because there are too many people waiting. They can't move," Little said, adding that shipments take 30 percent to 50 percent longer than usual.

unfortunately, the low water levels are expected to last until 2023. Rainfall is forecast to be lower than normal, and water from the Missouli River will be shut down in mid-November to conserve water, further reducing the flow into the lower Mississippi River.