Recent rains have improved drought conditions in Brazil

In 2024, Brazil, the world's largest exporter of soya and corn, faced one of the worst droughts in its recent history.

Among the worst affected rivers is the Tapajós, a key artery for grain trade from the state of Mato Grosso, the beating heart of Brazil's agricultural production. In October, its water level reached historic lows, forcing the suspension of barge traffic.

Copernicus Sentinel-2 images clearly show the impact of the crisis. In the bottom image acquired on 10 October, large areas of sand can be seen in the riverbed, a sign of the drastic reduction in water levels. 

Thanks to the November rains, the river has partially regained its flow, as shown in the top image dated 19 November, allowing river transport to resume at 50 per cent of its capacity.

The Copernicus Global Drought Observatory (GDO) monitors and provides data on global drought conditions to support water resource management and emergency response.