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Low water hinders Rhine river shipping in Germany

Low water levels after recent dry weather are avoiding freight vessels from sailing totally filled on the Rhine river in Germany, with surcharges added to the normal freight rates, commodity traders stated on Thursday.

Low water is hampering shipping parts of the river from Cologne southwards, consisting of the chokepoint of Kaub, traders stated.

Shallow water indicates vessel operators impose additional charges on freight rates to make up for vessels not having the ability to cruise completely filled, increasing costs for freight owners.

The Rhine is an essential shipping path for products such as grains, minerals, chemicals, ores, coal and oil products, including heating oil.

German business dealt with supply bottlenecks and production issues in summer 2022 after a dry spell and heatwave led to abnormally low water levels on the river.

But repeated rain this summer kept Rhine water levels high, enabling shipping to normally operate typically.

(source: Reuters)