Rhein bei Kaub atteint un record de basse de deux centimètres

The Rhine has reached a historic low at the Kaub lock in Koblenz of just two centimetres, seriously compromising shipping on Germany's most important inland waterway. The water level measurement by the federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) confirmed a provisional record low on Friday, recorded since the 19th century. The level did rise to five centimetres on Friday morning, but remains far below average and underlines the acute crisis. Experts warn that the Rhine at Kaub – roughly in the middle of its course – is now no longer navigable for larger river ships, blocking transport routes and supply chains. "The Rhine is basically divided in two," said Cyrus de la Rubia, chief economist at the Hamburg Commercial Bank. "Almost all shipments are now unnavigable, with inefficiencies and economic disadvantages resulting." The consequences are already evident in industrial production: in July it fell by 1.1% compared with the previous month, indicating the burden of water shortages. Current surveys indicate that orders are rising in August and September, but production is lagging behind. De la Rubia expects economic growth to slow by 0.2% in the third quarter compared with the previous quarters. Although positive effects such as the US AI investment boom are outweighing the burden, the supply bottlenecks remain a structural problem. The Rhine annually transports valuable goods such as grain, minerals, ores, coal and oil products – including petrol. With low water levels, inland ships can only partly load their barges, leading to increased freight costs and bottlenecks. The economic burden is thus far-reaching: shipping is a key pillar of German logistics, and the current conditions are jeopardising the efficiency of supply chains that are essential for industry and trade.