In many German rivers, water levels are dropping to partially historic lows, inland vessels are being forced to significantly reduce their cargo or cease operations altogether. Regarding this, Dirk Binding, DIHK Department Head for Digital Economy, Infrastructure, and Regional Policy commented:
03.08.2026 – "The low water levels of the Rhine and many other rivers are currently having a severe impact on goods transport. Inland ships cannot be fully loaded during low water conditions. Their transport capacity can drop by up to 75 percent. This can lead to shortages and, consequently, an increase in transport costs and delivery times. If the drought persists, the supply chains of key industrial sectors such as the chemical, steel, or mineral oil industries can be disrupted. This then affects the entire economy and would be another burden on the already heavily strained German economy.
To better prepare for extended periods of low water, many companies are already taking precautionary measures. These include expanding storage capacities or acquiring ships with a lower draft. However, implementing such measures requires a significant amount of time and high investments."
More details in the radio interview
Dirk Binding also spoke comprehensively on the topic in an interview with Deutschlandfunk. You can listen to the interview from August 3 here:
Low water levels: "Goods transport is massively slowed down" (only available in German)
- Relevant in topic:
- Infrastructure
- Key areas:
-
- Transportation
Released 03.08.2026
Pressekontakt
Julia Löffelholz
Spokesperson