Rhine low water threatens economic growth, says IHK

The Rhine River's critically low water levels are posing a severe threat to North Rhine-Westphalia's economic growth, according to the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

"Ships on the Rhine always need some water under their keel, and when there's no water left, it becomes difficult for shipping and industry," explained Ocke Hamann, the IHK NRW's spokesperson for transport and mobility. Currently, vessels are restricted to carrying only about one-fifth of their normal load. This directly impacts industries dependent on the supply of basic materials and intermediate products, with steel, chemicals, mineral oil products, and animal feed being particularly affected due to their heavy nature.

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On the Rhine, ships always sail with some water under their keel, and when there's no water left, it becomes difficult for shipping and industry.

While low water levels are a recurring issue, Hamann highlighted the unprecedented nature of the problem occurring so early in the year. He recalled that in 2018, a historical low water phase led to a 0.4 percentage point reduction in economic growth, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. With the federal government forecasting only 0.5 percent growth for the current year, Hamann warned that this planned growth could be "obliterated within a few days" due to the current situation.

Water levels along the Rhine are alarmingly low. In Duisburg-Ruhrort, for instance, the water level measured 173 centimeters on Monday morning, just 20 centimeters above the record low of 153 centimeters recorded in October 2018. This situation underscores the vulnerability of crucial European trade routes to climate-related water scarcity.

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This means that the growth planned by the federal government can already be obliterated within a few days.