Why the Rhine drought is bad news for Germany's recovery
Germany’s inland waterways still move around 5% of the nation's goods. With the Rhine at a critically low level, DW explores how the drought is hitting the economy where it hurts most.
The Rhine River, crucial for Germany's industry, is experiencing critically low water levels due to an ongoing drought. At Kaub, a point between Mainz and Koblenz, the water level dropped to around 16 centimeters on Monday, marking the lowest navigable depth for standard commercial vessels. Ship operators have drastically reduced cargo capacity, with many carrying only one-fifth of their normal load.
The issue extends beyond the Middle Rhine, affecting areas around Cologne, Düsseldorf, Duisburg-Ruhrort, and Emmerich. Jens Schwanen, head of the BDB association of inland shipping, warned that the Rhine could become impassable at Kaub before the end of the week, effectively dividing the river into two parts for commercial traffic.
The drought is particularly damaging for Germany's economy, which heavily relies on river transportation for about 5% of its goods. Eurostat estimates that the Rhine corridor accounts for around 40% of freight by ton-kilometers. For every 30 days of low water on the Rhine, industrial production in Germany declines by about 1%. The German Economic Institute predicts a 0.4% drop in GDP, erasing the year's expected growth of 0.5%.
Scientists attribute the frequency of such events to climate change, which has made them more frequent, longer, and severe.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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