Rhine Falls to Lowest Since 1880, Threatening European Trade

Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.HomePMN BusinessRhine Falls to Lowest Since 1880, Threatening European TradeThe Rhine River’s water levels dropped to the lowest in nearly 150 years as hot, dry weather grips Europe, threatening to disrupt a crucial route for transporting coal, fuel and industrial commodities across a large swath of the continent.Author of the article: You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.(Bloomberg) — The Rhine River’s water levels dropped to the lowest in nearly 150 years as hot, dry weather grips Europe, threatening to disrupt a crucial route for transporting coal, fuel and industrial commodities across a large swath of the continent.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountThe water level at Kaub, a key choke point for vessels heading to southern Germany and Switzerland, fell to 24 centimeters Monday. That’s the lowest since records began in 1880, according to German federal data compiled by ETH Zurich. With the fourth heat wave to grip Western Europe this summer stretching through the start of this week, the situation risks creating logistical bottlenecks on a river that snakes for roughly 800 miles (1,290 kilometers) from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe falling levels of the Rhine have already pushed freight rates sharply higher as barges are forced to reduce cargo loads to navigate the shallow waters. The cost to ship diesel from Rotterdam to Karlsruhe — further inland from the closely watched Kaub choke point — has climbed to the highest since Bloomberg began compiling the data in 2009. The Rhine is a vital conduit for transporting oil products, chemicals, coal, iron ore, grains and goods in containers. Some cargoes can be transported by rail instead. A DB Cargo spokesperson said last week that the railway operator is in constant talks with customers affected by low water levels.Still, even if companies can find alternative supply routes, higher costs threaten to further erode Europe’s industrial competitiveness against rivals in Asia and North America.The extreme weather is also drying up other crucial European waterways, including the Danube, disrupting power systems and sparking massive wildfires.Progressively lower water levels are causing a shortage for cooling at Hungary’s Paks nuclear power station. The plant has been forced to fully shut down for the first time in its 44-year history, due to the low levels. That will strip the country of 40% of its electricity generation capacity, forcing the government to boost power imports.Historical water levels show that the Danube reaches its annual low point in August or September, according to Laszlo Nagy, the deputy director of the Paks plant, who added that it takes about a further week to bring the reactors online once water levels become adequate again. That means Hungary may have to do without its single-biggest energy asset for several months.In Romania, the navy took unprecedented action to boost water flows toward the country’s sole nuclear power plant by detonating a rock formation in the Danube.(Updates with detail on the Danube from eighth paragraph.)This advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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