World & BusinessLow Rhine water levels squeeze shipping and strain road and rail
ABC News reports that the southern Rhine reopened after an August shutdown, but ships are carrying reduced loads. FreightWaves says road and rail networks are struggling to absorb diverted freight.
TLDR
ABC News reports that heatwaves and drought shut the southern Rhine to boat traffic in August. It has since reopened, but one cargo captain told ABC he had cut his usual gravel load by more than 80% to avoid hitting the riverbed.
FreightWaves reports that reduced barge capacity is raising costs and delaying shipments, while road and rail networks struggle to take on displaced freight.
RMIT supply-chain professor Vinh Thai told ABC that frequent closures would eventually affect Australia, warning of longer transport times and higher costs. The German-Australian chamber of commerce told ABC it had not yet heard of impacts on Australian importers or exporters, though it expected them.
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Low Rhine water levels squeeze shipping and strain road and rail
ABC News reports that the southern Rhine reopened after an August shutdown, but ships are carrying reduced loads. FreightWaves says road and rail networks are struggling to absorb diverted freight.
TLDR
ABC News reports that heatwaves and drought shut the southern Rhine to boat traffic in August. It has since reopened, but one cargo captain told ABC he had cut his usual gravel load by more than 80% to avoid hitting the riverbed.
FreightWaves reports that reduced barge capacity is raising costs and delaying shipments, while road and rail networks struggle to take on displaced freight.
RMIT supply-chain professor Vinh Thai told ABC that frequent closures would eventually affect Australia, warning of longer transport times and higher costs. The German-Australian chamber of commerce told ABC it had not yet heard of impacts on Australian importers or exporters, though it expected them.