German States Lift Sunday Lorry Ban as Rhine Levels Fall 33% Below 2018 Record
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · Aug 11
German States Lift Sunday Lorry Ban as Rhine Levels Fall 33% Below 2018 Record
3 articles · Updated · Financial Times · Aug 11
Summary
Four western German states have already let lorries over 7.5 tonnes drive on Sundays, and Baden-Württemberg will join from next Sunday through at least end-August.
Kaub, the Rhine chokepoint between Mainz and Koblenz, hit record low water levels this week—about one-third below the previous 2018 low—disrupting a river route vital for coal, crude oil, minerals and ores.
The strain is already spreading: Kaub’s ferry halted service on Monday night, freight rates have climbed to near 15-year highs, and Germany’s inland shipping lobby warned the Rhine could become unnavigable along its full length.
German manufacturers are shifting cargo to roads, with Daimler Truck arranging alternative deliveries and BASF warning low water could trigger shortages or force majeure in parts of its network.
ING estimates the Rhine disruption could cut Germany’s 2026 GDP growth by 0.3 percentage points, a significant hit to a central-bank forecast of about 0.5% growth.