Record low European river levels threaten chemical freight and process cooling

Low water levels in the Rhine river, with Evonik chemical plant in the background

Source: © Alex Kraus/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Cutting off bulk barges leaves few options for high-volume gaseous cargoes, where road and rail options are unsuitable

Severe drought in Europe has sunk river water levels to record lows and dragged on the movement of chemicals and other goods. Chemical firms including BASF, Covestro and Evonik have large facilities sited on the Rhine, using barges to move chemicals in and out, as well as providing water to cool various process plants.