Getty Images The state of Amazonas has recorded the worst drought in the last 121 years. Sixty of the sixty-two municipalities in the state are facing an emergency situation. The Negro River, which bathes the capital Manaus, recorded a volume of 12.7 meters, the lowest since 1902. The extreme climate is a reflection of the El Niño phenomenon, which weakens the winds, and the warming of the Pacific Ocean’ s surface waters.
The situation arouses an economic concern, as Manaus is an important industrial hub in Brazil. Manaus is responsible for the production of a great part of the home appliances and electronics in the country. Around 95% of the inputs that supply factories, as well as readymade products, are transported by large boats passing through the rivers in the region. With the drought, river transport has been interrupted.
According to specialists, the problem with the transport may cause delays in deliveries, affect stocks and, consequently, the discounts of products during Black Friday, the day when sales are offered by companies on the last Friday of November. If the drought continues, it is possible that it may also affect the supply of products to be sold during Christmas.
Sources: Valor Econômico and CNN.
