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

In a drought-stricken Germany, the city of Kaub along the Rhine has become emblematic of the economic impact of low water levels on various industries across the country. The river has effectively been divided into two sections, with the northern part being navigable and the southern part experiencing extremely low water levels.

Official data shows the river's level dropping to just six centimeters, a historic low. This is too shallow for large ships, with the river traffic association declaring that no shipping is feasible at such low levels. Some ships are still navigating the section, as captains decide themselves whether to proceed or not. From a satellite perspective, the river's level has been steadily decreasing over the past weeks, with sandbars becoming more visible along the riverbanks.

The consequences of this drought are particularly severe for businesses located south of Kaub, as they are now cut off from access to North Sea ports. BASF, Germany's largest chemical company with a headquarters in Ludwigshafen, is particularly affected. While BASF has experience with low water levels and has developed specialized ships for these conditions, there are limits to what these vessels can achieve.

The company is shifting its traffic to railways and trucks, but the alternatives are limited due to high demand for trucks and containers. The road transport, which is also much more expensive, adds an additional economic burden to already struggling industries.

Beyond the industrial sector, the drought is also significantly impacting agriculture. The farmers' association has warned of substantial crop losses, with already below-average harvests for wheat, rapeseed, and the later maturing crops of potatoes, sugar beets, corn, and soybeans. Joachim Rukwied, president of the farmers' association, emphasized the growing issue of insufficient fodder growth, leading to reports of livestock culling due to feed shortages.

While temperatures are predicted to drop slightly in the coming week, rainfall remains scarce. The only respite for farmers and businesses along the river would be rain, which is only appearing sporadically.