HAMBURG, July 23 (Reuters) – The river Rhine in Germany has fallen again, with shallow water hindering cargo shipping and increasing costs for freight transport, commodity traders said on Thursday.
• Shallow water after this summer’s heatwave and scarce rainfall means cargo vessels are only able to sail partly loaded on the river, increasing costs for cargo owners. Loads must be spread among several vessels, also increasing costs and creating an unwelcome extra expense for German industry currently showing signs of recovery.
• Inland navigation agency WSV said the navigable water depth at the chokepoint of Kaub near Karlsruhe fell 14 cm to 63 cm on Thursday, although this was still up from just over 40 cm early last week. The river is deeper than the navigable depth.
• Commodity traders said this meant ships were often able to sail only 20% full, but sailings are continuing.
• “Some rain is forecast over the weekend and early next week which could help but we will have to see how much actually arrives,” one trader said.
• The cost of tanker barge transport from Rotterdam to Karlsruhe has risen to around €115-€120 ($131-$137) a ton from around €60-€70 at the start of last week and €45 at the end of June, traders said.
• The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities such as grains, minerals, ores, coal and oil products, including petrol.
(Reporting by Michael Hogan in HamburgEditing by Alexandra Hudson)
