Dürre in Deutschland: Diese Bilder zeigen, wo Trockenheit und Niedrigwasser die Wirtschaft treffen

The heatwave of 2026 has made the small town of Kaub on the Rhine one of the most renowned places in the country. This is for good reason: the level of the river here has implications for countless businesses across Germany. In fact, the Rhine is now split into two parts - one north of Kaub and one south of it. According to official data from the night of Friday to Saturday, the water level stood at only six centimeters, the lowest since the detailed records began.

Below six centimeters, the riverbed is even deeper, but for barge traffic, the water is finally too shallow. The Binnenschifffahrtsverband, the inland shipping association, had previously declared that at single-digit water levels, no traffic was possible. Some ships are still on the section and data from "Marine Traffic" shows captains decide for themselves whether to sail or not.

From a satellite perspective, it is evident how the water level has been dropping over the past weeks. On the banks and in the river current, the sandy patches become increasingly visible week by week. Ships sailing from the north now reach as far as the Cologne area and supply refining and chemical plants with raw materials, then return to Rotterdam.

Even there, the water levels are as low as ever, but only for smaller-loaded or specially built low-water ships. Thyssenkrupp adjusts production accordingly, but for the steelworks in Duisburg, this affects the volumes of iron ore and coal needed for steel production, which are usually transported by ship to the company's port. High-pressure furnaces are located directly on the Rhine.

While the company still insists production has not stopped and customers have not yet felt the impact, production is being adjusted to consume incoming raw materials more slowly. In Duisburg, currently the largest inland port in the world, a water level of 129 centimeters is being measured, a new record low. Rain is expected to begin along the Rhine at the beginning of the week, but forecasts indicate further falling water levels.

The chemical company Covestro also faces supply issues, stating that the low water "affects the supply of raw materials and production at individual enterprises as well as the delivery of individual products." BASF, Germany's largest chemical company with its headquarters in Ludwigshafen, is particularly affected. While BASF has experience with low water and has developed and built specialized ships for low water levels, these models have their limits.

In Ludwigshafen, 40 percent of traffic on the Rhine normally takes place. BASF is relocating traffic as much as possible to rail and trucks, but the alternatives are limited because trucks and trailers are always in high demand. The alternatives on land are also significantly more expensive, making low water an additional economic burden for already struggling industries.

Besides industry, the drought also hits another important economic sector: agriculture. The farmers' association warned on Friday of massive harvest losses, even total failures. Wheat and rapeseed crops were already below average, and for later-ripening potatoes, sugar beets, corn, and soybeans, President Joachim Rukwied sees significant problems.

"What is now a problem for everyone, especially in southern Germany, is that no feed is regrowing," he said. Reports of emergency slaughters of cows due to feed shortages are multiplying. In some cases, irrigation of entire fields is an option, but it is rarely available because it is too costly, they don't have enough equipment, and conflicts with local water authorities are increasing.

In the coming week, temperatures are expected to drop slightly, but farmers and enterprises along the rivers would only benefit from rain. And rain is only occasionally in sight. More: Drought in Germany - The fight for water has long begun.