The Rhine fell to a record low overnight on August 15, with the water level at the Kaub gauge near Koblenz dropping to 6 centimeters, according to Germany's Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV), as cited by Reuters. By Saturday morning the level had recovered to 8 centimeters, compared with 10 centimeters a day earlier. The previous record of 25 centimeters was set in 2018.
The Rhine remains one of Europe's most important transport arteries, carrying chemical products, raw materials, fuel and other cargo. With the river shrinking, much of that traffic has already been shifted to trucks and trains. German companies report disruptions: chemical producers, energy firms, metals companies and agricultural traders have warned of rising costs, transport bottlenecks and lower output.
According to calculations by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, if the water level at Kaub stays below 78 centimeters for 30 consecutive days, industrial production falls by 1 percent. Institute economist Stefan Kooths believes low water could shave 0.1–0.2 percent off Germany's GDP in the third quarter.
Oliver Krischer, environment minister of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, said the critical point for Rhine shipping in 2026 had arrived unusually early. In 2018, the same situation did not develop until late summer or autumn, whereas now it is expected to last for several weeks or months.
The Rhine's decline follows that of the Danube. In Serbia, fuel reserves have been tapped due to shipping problems, and cruise navigation has been suspended in Budapest. Falling water levels also forced the shutdown of Romania's only nuclear plant, Cernavoda, which normally supplies about 20 percent of the country's electricity; both reactor units were taken offline.