Drying Rhine puts Germany’s economy on brink of deeper losses

Germany faces potentially billions of euros in economic losses as historically low water levels on the Rhine disrupt one of the country's most important transport routes, according to the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration.

The Rhine continues to fall in North Rhine-Westphalia, with the water level in Cologne reaching a new record low of 56 cm, Caliber.Az reports via German media.

Forecasters expect levels to fall further in the coming days. In Cologne, the level could drop to 47 cm by the evening of August 14, while Düsseldorf could see its record low of 10 cm broken as early as August 12. The level there is forecast to fall to just 2 cm by August 14.

Despite the extremely low readings, vessels can still navigate the river because the navigable channel is considerably deeper than the levels measured at riverside gauges. However, ships must significantly reduce their cargo loads.

The Rhine is a vital artery for Germany's industrial economy, carrying fuel, chemicals, raw materials and other goods. Reduced shipping capacity can therefore increase transport costs and disrupt industrial supply chains.

Experts estimated in July that weaker Rhine shipping could reduce Germany's GDP by 0.1–0.2% in the third quarter of 2026. Handelsblatt reported on August 10 that the economic impact could be greater if water levels continue to decline.

The current drought has already pushed Rhine levels to historic lows at several monitoring stations, with previous records dating back to the severe drought of 2018.

By Aghakazim Guliyev