Parts of the river Rhine in south Germany were still closed to cargo shipping on Wednesday after heavy rain in the area increased water levels, navigation authorities said.

Rhine river shipping stopped around Maxau and Mainz in south Germany, the German inland waterways navigation agency said. The river had been closed to freight shipping over the weekend after heavy rain caused comprehensive flooding.

The high water warning centre in the south German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg stated Rhine water levels were expected to fall after dryer weather condition and Maxau is currently forecast to reopen to shipping early on Friday.

Delivering on northern areas of the river is running normally including the crucial points of Duisburg, Cologne and Duesseldorf.

High water indicates vessels do not have adequate space to cruise under bridges and the blockage prevents vessels sailing to Switzerland.

The Rhine is an important shipping path for products including minerals, coal and oil products such as heating oil, grains and animal feed.

The Rhine has actually repeatedly experienced low water levels since of abnormally dry summer seasons recently.