Impacts of floods in RS: A preliminary assessment on grain production and export

The intense rains have caused the major rivers in the state, as well as Lake Guaíba, which borders the metropolitan region, to overflow. Last Sunday, the lake's level reached a historic mark of 5.33 meters, surpassing the 4.76 meters recorded during the 1941 flood, which had been the most severe flood documented until now. The effects of these floods are particularly concerning for grain production, as they impact both the harvesting phase, which has yet to be completed, and the logistics of transportation, especially for products destined for export. Access to the Port of Rio Grande is hampered by several partial and total blockages on the main highways leading to the state's most important port.