Rhine Water Level Hits Record Low, Disrupting Shipping

Water levels in the Rhine have dropped to a record low, halting navigation.

Consensus

The water level in the Rhine has dropped to a record low.
The navigable depth in the narrow section near Koblenz is 12 cm.
This is below the previous minimum recorded in 2018, which was 25 cm.
The river's depth is approximately 1 meter above the navigable depth.
Shipping on the Rhine has been severely disrupted, with navigation effectively halted in the Koblenz area.
Companies in Germany are experiencing transport bottlenecks and supply chain issues.
Industrial sectors including chemicals, agriculture, and metallurgy are affected.
Covestro has declared force majeure for certain products due to transport disruptions.
Companies are shifting cargo to rail and road transport where possible.
The low water levels are linked to prolonged heatwaves and drought in Europe.

RheinCargo is organizing additional rail shipments for the Huettenwerke Krupp Mannesmann (HGK) steel plant, with three weekly trips planned until the end of September, each carrying about 2,000 tons of coal. — interfax
HGK normally transports about 24,000 tons of coal and ore daily from Rotterdam to Duisburg, but currently only 14,500 tons can be transported via inland waterways. — interfax
Evonik reports production difficulties at its Marl facility due to reduced supply volumes. — interfax
Most ships cannot pass through the Kaub section in either direction, making north-south navigation on the river effectively impossible in that area. — vedomosti
109 cities in Germany, including Munich, have introduced water use restrictions for technical purposes due to drought. — vedomosti