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Rhine river water levels impact freight costs and shipping
Low water levels on the Rhine river have caused significant disruptions to European inland shipping and logistics. Recent rainfall has caused water levels at the critical Kaub chokepoint to rise to approximately 60 centimetres, providing some relief after levels had previously dropped to near-record lows. Despite this improvement, vessels are still largely sailing only partially loaded.
Freight costs have experienced dramatic increases due to the scarcity of navigable depth. Some reports indicate that rates from the ARA region to Karlsruhe have surged by as much as 378%, jumping from €45 to €215 per tonne. Other market sources noted rates reaching approximately EUR 100 per tonne for the Rotterdam to Karlsruhe route, a sharp rise from typical levels.
The shortage of water depth is impacting industrial supply chains, particularly for the chemical and energy sectors. The disruption affects roughly 3.1 million tonnes of annual ethylene capacity and impacts operations at the Miro refinery. To mitigate the shortage, many companies are shifting cargo, such as coal, to rail transport to maintain supplies for utilities and steel manufacturers.
Entities
Kaub · Miro refinery · Rhine · Rotterdam · WSV
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Freight costs from ARA to Karlsruhe surged from €45 per tonne to €215 per tonne. www.foreignpolicyjournal.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Barge freight rates from Rotterdam to Karlsruhe rose to around EUR 100 per tonne. www.dowjones.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The navigable water gauge at Kaub was approximately 60 centimetres on Monday. www.bairdmaritime.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Barges are currently loading only 15-20% of their capacity. www.dowjones.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The disruption affects approximately 3.1 million tonnes per year of ethylene capacity. www.foreignpolicyjournal.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Utilities and steel producers are increasing demand for rail capacity to maintain supplies. www.dowjones.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Vessels are able to take on more freight than previously, though they remain only partially loaded. www.bairdmaritime.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The water level at the Kaub gauge was reported at 10 cm. www.dowjones.com