Low Water Hinders Rhine, Danube River Shipping

Water levels on the Rhine and Danube rivers in Germany are still low after dry weather and freight vessels cannot sail fully loaded, traders said on Monday.

The Rhine is too shallow for normal sailings from Duisburg to south Germany, traders said. All of the German section of the Danube is too shallow for full loads, they said.

Shallow water means vessel operators impose surcharges on freight rates, increasing costs for cargo owners.

Several vessels are also needed to transport consignments usually transported by one craft, also increasing costs for cargo owners.

The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities including grains, minerals, coal and oil products including heating oil. The Danube is a major route for east European grain exports to west Europe.

(Reporting by Michael Hogan; editing by Jason Neely)