Water crisis on the Rhine: lighter loads, soaring diesel prices
The cost of shipping diesel from Rotterdam to Karlsruhe has risen to record levels since records began (2009)
The water level of the River Rhine has fallen to its lowest level in 150 years, as hot, dry weather grips Europe, threatening to disrupt a crucial route for the transport of coal, fuel and industrial raw materials across a vast area of the continent.
On Monday, the water level at Kaub – a key bottleneck for ships heading for southern Germany and Switzerland – fell to 24 centimetres. According to German federal data compiled by ETH Zurich, this is the lowest level recorded since measurements began in 1880.
With the fourth heatwave set to hit Western Europe this summer, which is due to last until the start of this week, the situation is likely to cause logistical bottlenecks along a river that winds for around 800 miles (1,290 kilometres) from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea.
The fall in the Rhine’s water levels has already led to a significant increase in freight rates, as barges are forced to reduce their cargo in order to navigate shallow waters.
The cost of shipping diesel from Rotterdam to Karlsruhe —further inland than the closely monitored Kaub bottleneck— has risen to its highest level since Bloomberg began collecting data in 2009.
