Low Water Levels Halt Fully Loaded Vessels on Germany's Rhine, Raising Freight Costs

A heatwave has lowered water levels on the Rhine, preventing cargo vessels from sailing fully loaded. Traders report that barges can carry only about 20% of their usual cargo, forcing shipments to be split among several ships. The reduced capacity has led operators to impose surcharges, pushing the cost of tanker‑barge transport from Rotterdam to Karlsruhe up to €60‑70 per ton, up from €45 at the end of June. The bottleneck is most acute at the Kaub choke point, where barges can now carry only about 460 tonnes.

The Rhine is a critical artery for commodities such as grain, minerals, coal and oil products. German firms fear supply bottlenecks similar to those experienced during the 2022 drought. Federal officials are monitoring the situation; the water‑way authority warned, “Wir sind eindeutig im Niedrigwasserbereich,” and the environment ministry plans to launch a nationwide low‑water information system (NIWIS) to improve response measures. Rain is forecast later in the week, offering a potential temporary relief.