Rhine Shipping Costs Surge as Water Levels Drop in Germany
Editorial & Advertiser disclosure
Global Banking & Finance Review® is an online platform offering news, analysis, and opinion on the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the banking and finance industry worldwide. The platform covers a diverse range of topics, including banking, insurance, investment, wealth management, fintech, and regulatory issues. The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website.
Rhine Cargo Shipping Costs Jump as Water Levels Fall to Seasonal Lows
Impact of Low Rhine Water Levels on Shipping and Industry
Recent Decline in Rhine Water Levels
HAMBURG, Sept 11 (Reuters) – Water levels in the Rhine in Germany have fallen again this week after mostly dry weather, the country’s inland navigation agency said on Friday, with commodity traders reporting rising costs for cargo shipping.
Consequences for German Companies
Increased Transport Costs and Logistics Bottlenecks
• German companies suffered from low Rhine water levels this summer, with the industry facing higher transport costs, logistics bottlenecks and curbed production.
Shipping Adjustments and Price Increases
Reduced Vessel Loads and Shift to Alternative Transport
• Mostly dry weather this week in river catchment areas means levels have dropped again, with vessels sailing part-loaded, commodity traders said. More freight has been transferred to road and railway transport, but the river is holding above record-low levels in August.
Rising Freight Prices
• Transport prices are rising as vessels are sailing with less cargo and loads must be spread around several ships. Prices for tanker transport from Rotterdam to Karlsruhe jumped to about €165-€170 ($191.43-$197.23) a ton on Friday, up from around €100 last week.
Water Level Measurements and Forecasts
Current Water Gauge Readings
• Inland navigation agency WSV said the navigable water gauge at the chokepoint of Kaub near Koblenz was around 21 cm on Friday, down from 34 cm on Monday and 50 cm last week. The Rhine at Kaub fell below 10 cm in mid-August, below the previous lowest recorded level of 25 centimetres in 2018. The river is about 1 metre deeper than the navigable water gauge.
Outlook for Water Levels
• The WSV said that no major improvement in river water levels is expected in the coming week but some expected rain could keep the river stable around current levels.
Broader Context: European Drought and Shipping Routes
Heatwaves and Rainfall Deficits
• Germany and several other European countries endured successive heatwaves and scant rainfall this summer, pushing down water levels in waterways such as the Rhine, a vital shipping route for grain, metal ores, coal and refined oil products.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Michael Hogan in Hamburg; Editing by Joyjeet Das)
