Update (1000ET): The water level on the Rhine River at Kaub, Germany, has fallen to a critical 40 centimeters (15.7 inches). It becomes uneconomical for barges to transit Europe's most important inland waterway at this level.
"About 160 million tons of goods and commodities were hauled along the Rhine in 2020, ranging from chemicals to iron ore to oil products. Low water levels restrict the transport of goods along the waterway by limiting how much barges can carry without scraping against the riverbed," Bloomberg said.
Poster Comment:
This means they will have to transport that 160 million tons using expensive energy to do the job.