Water levels on Rhine rise, but relief forecast to be short-lived

Water levels on the Rhine, a critical European inland waterway for freight, rose above 50 centimeters Oct. 26 and are forecast to hover around 70 cm in the next few days, but the rebound in flows is expected to provide only short-term relief to fuel supply chains across the region, according to market participants.

Water levels at Kaub, the shallowest part of the Middle Rhine, stood at 56 cm as of late afternoon Oct. 26 and are forecast to exceed 70 cm by the end of the day, then expected to hold around that level for the following three days, according to data from the German water authority WSV.

The Rhine water levels exceeded 50 cm on Oct. 26 for the first time since Sept. 4, with levels mostly below 10 cm from Sept. 24 to Oct. 10 and mostly below 20 cm from Oct. 11 to Oct. 22.

The recent rise in Rhine water levels has generated renewed market activity, but the improvement is expected to be short-lived, according to a European-based market participant who asked for anonymity because the participant was not authorized to speak publicly. The source said extremely low water levels in recent weeks had forced refiners to rely more heavily on trucks, rail, pipelines, and some coaster movements to transport products, although overall product movements remained slow.

This story was originally published by Hellenic Shipping News. Read the full story at Hellenic Shipping News →