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Low Water Levels on Rhine Disrupt Petroleum Shipments Across Germany

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Europe's fuel transport network faces fresh disruption after Rhine barges carried barely 40% of normal diesel volumes, according to a Bloomberg analysis on Wednesday.

Oil shippers along the Rhine are reducing cargo loads as falling water levels disrupt fuel movements across Europe, while tensions in the Middle East pressure diesel and jet fuel supplies.

At the German chokepoint of Kaub, low water levels reduced diesel cargo volumes on Rhine barges to slightly above 1,000 tons on Wednesday, about 40% of normal carrying capacity, the analysis added, citing Spotbarge data.

More than 280 million tons of cargo moved through the Rhine in 2024, and petroleum products represented over one-fifth of total shipments across the river transport corridor.

Water levels at Kaub dropped to 98 centimeters on Wednesday, while forecasts indicate they may slip to 95 centimeters before rising slightly to 97 centimeters by early Sunday.

Below-average rainfall across Germany and Switzerland in recent days, combined with warmer-than-normal temperatures, worsened low-water conditions along sections of the Rhine, the analysis said.

Since spring began, transport costs for petroleum cargoes between Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp and Basel have climbed as low Rhine water levels slowed fuel deliveries, according to Spotbarge figures.

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