Drought triggers enduring petrochem supply delays along Ohio River

20-Aug-05

Drought conditions in the US Midwest have caused low water levels in the region. The Ohio River has been particularly affected, but problems have also been noted at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The Mississippi-Ohio system is the principal industrial waterway in central US, and is widely used to transport a variety of products from central US to the Gulf of Mexico Due to low water levels, petrochemical barge shipments along the Ohio and Mississippi river systems are facing continued delays. Petrochemical sectors including styrene monomer, aromatics, intermediates and solvents have been the most affected, due to the concentration of facilities along the Ohio River. The barges are unable to navigate normal channels due to the low water levels, and though traffic is still moving, shipments are taking up to a week more to reach their destinations.