Low water levels on the Rhine River are increasing transport costs and driving up fuel prices at gas stations, particularly in western Germany. {claim:1}

According to reports, regional price differences at German gas stations in July reached up to 11 cents per liter for E5 petrol and up to 10 cents for diesel. {claim:2}

The German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) attributed these regional fuel price differences primarily to varying procurement costs. {claim:3}

Rising transport costs and reduced ship capacity

Reports indicate the cost of transporting goods by tanker and inland vessel from Rotterdam to Karlsruhe rose to around 150 to 160 euros per ton, up from about 45 euros at the end of June. {claim:4}

150-160 euros per ton

Transport cost from Rotterdam to Karlsruhe

Markus Neumann of the Cologne Waterways and Shipping Office (Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsamt Köln) stated that a passing cargo ship was carrying only 1,500 tons instead of its 3,500-ton capacity. {claim:10}

Roberto Spranzi, a board member of the shipping cooperative DTG, stated that some ships are operating at only 20 percent capacity, which requires four to five times as many vessels as usual. {claim:11}

Water level measurements and forecasts

On Tuesday, the water level at the Kaub bottleneck in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, was measured at 24 centimeters, matching the historic low single reading from October 2018. {claim:5}

The German Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) predicted that the water level at Kaub could drop to 17 centimeters by Saturday. {claim:6}

On Friday afternoon, the water level of the Rhine in Cologne, Germany, was measured at 71 centimeters, which is over two meters below the average annual water level. {claim:9}

Economic impact and industry response

Stefan Kooths of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW) warned that the low water levels could reduce Germany's gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.1 to 0.2 percent. {claim:12}

The situation is indeed very dramatic.
— Andreas Grzib, board member of the DTG Deutsche Transport-Genossenschaft Binnenschifffahrt
Little water means higher costs.
— ZDF economic expert Valerie Haller

The chemical company Evonik stated that low water levels complicate inland waterway transport to and from the Marl Chemical Park, prompting the company to evaluate shifting to rail or road. {claim:14}

While shipping representatives have criticized the delay in deepening the Rhine, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) Economics Minister Mona Neubaur has rejected the proposal, stating that deepening the fairway from Basel to Rotterdam is not an option. {claim:13}