Wedoany.com Report-Apr. 18, Recent rainfall in Germany has increased water levels in the Rhine River, allowing vessels to carry more cargo, though most remain only partially loaded, commodity traders reported on April 17, 2025. The improved conditions follow a period of low water levels that disrupted shipping.

The River Rhine and the Mulheimer Bridge are seen at sundown, Cologne, Germany, April 7, 2025.

"Large volumes of rain have fallen in the Rhine region in past days and there has been an improvement in the low water problem," a trader stated. "More rain is forecast and if it actually arrives, parts of the Rhine could see a significant recovery next week, although water is still likely to be under levels allowing normal sailings."

Low water levels, caused by dry weather in March and April, have affected shipping south of Duisburg and Cologne, including the critical Kaub area. Despite these challenges, freight deliveries continue by distributing cargo across multiple vessels, which increases costs for cargo owners.

In southern Germany, rainfall has raised water levels at Kaub, enabling ships to carry approximately 1,400 metric tons of cargo on Thursday, up from 870 tons late last week, according to traders. However, shallow water still requires vessel operators to apply surcharges on freight rates to offset the impact of partially loaded ships, further raising expenses.

Freight costs have also climbed. The price for a tanker freighter traveling from Rotterdam to Karlsruhe reached about 90 euros per ton on Thursday, compared to 86 euros earlier in the week. This marks a significant increase from 46 euros in early April and 34 euros in late March.

The Rhine River remains a vital route for transporting commodities such as grains, minerals, ores, coal, and oil products, including heating oil. German businesses previously encountered supply chain disruptions in summer 2022 due to low water levels caused by drought and heat.