Low water levels after dry weather in recent weeks continued to prevent cargo vessels from sailing fully loaded on the Rhine and Danube rivers in Germany, traders said on Monday. All of the Rhine and Danube in Germany are too shallow for normal sailings with some barges in central Germany only able to sail 30 percent full, they said. Loads were being divided among several vessels instead of being carried by a single craft, increasing transport costs for cargo owners.
Traders stressed the low water is a cost problem, with freight still being delivered but at greater expense. Some rain is forecast in river catchment areas in Germany and Switzerland later this week which could bring some relief, they said. The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities including grains, minerals, coal and oil products such as heating oil. The Danube is a major route for east European grain exports, especially maize, to western Europe.
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