Rhine River Water Levels Rise After Recent Rainfall in Germany

After experiencing extreme dry weather in March and April, recent rainfall in the Rhine region of Germany has led to a rise in water levels in the Rhine river. This increase has allowed vessels to carry more cargo, although most are still sailing at only half capacity, according to commodity traders.

One trader noted, “Large volumes of rain have fallen in the Rhine region in the past few days, and there has been an improvement in the low water problem. More rain is forecast, and if it arrives as predicted, the Rhine could see a significant recovery next week, although water levels may still be below normal sailings.”

Low water levels had been hampering shipping on the Rhine south of Duisburg and Cologne, including the chokepoint of Kaub. However, with the recent rainfall, freight deliveries are continuing, albeit with loads being divided among more vessels, increasing costs for cargo owners.

Ships are now able to carry around 1,400 metric tons of cargo in Kaub, up from 870 tons late last week due to the raised water levels. Despite the improvement, shallow water conditions still require vessel operators to impose surcharges on freight rates to compensate for ships not sailing fully loaded, ultimately raising costs for cargo owners.

Prices for tanker freighters sailing from Rotterdam to Karlsruhe have been on the rise, reaching about 90 euros a ton on Thursday, up from 86 euros earlier in the week. This increase is a significant jump from 46 euros in early April and 34 euros in late March.

The Rhine river is a crucial shipping route for various commodities, including grains, minerals, ores, coal, and oil products such as heating oil. German companies had faced supply bottlenecks and production issues in the summer of 2022 after a drought and heatwave resulted in unusually low water levels in the Rhine.

The recent rainfall and subsequent rise in water levels offer some relief to the shipping industry along the Rhine river, allowing for increased cargo capacity and improved navigation conditions. As the forecast predicts more rain in the coming days, there is hope for further recovery in the region’s water levels and shipping operations.

Sources: Reuters