Rhine Water Levels Drop Further, Shipping Severely Impacted

Ongoing drought forces large vessels to reduce cargo loads, driving up logistical costs and straining industrial supply chains.

Water levels along the Rhine have continued to decline, causing significant disruptions to inland shipping operations.
In Cologne, large vessels are operating at roughly half their usual cargo capacity due to reduced water depths.
On the Middle Rhine near Bingen, ships are limited to carrying only one-third of their typical freight loads.
The reduced cargo capacities are increasing operational costs as companies must book additional vessels to transport the same volume of goods.
Official forecasts suggest water levels may stabilize and improve modestly after mid-April, offering potential relief to strained supply chains.