Rhine water rises sharply after rain, ships able to load more cargo

The river Rhine in Germany has seen a sharp rise in water levels following recent rainfall, according to the country's inland navigation agency. This has allowed vessels to load more freight, despite ongoing issues with shallow water. German companies reported disruptions earlier in August, when Rhine water levels reached record lows due to a heatwave in western Europe.

These low levels caused higher transport costs, logistics bottlenecks, and curbed production. The navigable water gauge at the chokepoint of Kaub near Koblenz was around 60 cm on Monday, up from 5 cm last week. This is below the required 1.50 meters for fully loading vessels. Some ships have resumed sailing through Kaub with smaller loads of 700-800 metric tons, depending on the vessel type.

However, sailings on northern sections of the river continue with part-loaded vessels, increasing costs for industry. Meanwhile, much freight has been shifted to land transport. Germany, like much of Europe, has experienced multiple heatwaves with little rainfall this summer, resulting in low water levels on waterways like the Rhine, a crucial shipping route for goods such as grains, minerals, coal, and refined oil products.