German Supply Chains Are Hobbling Recovery of Europe’s No. 1 Economy
Roughly a third of Germany’s coal, crude oil, natural gas, grains and chemicals—travel along inland waterways.
Germany’s logistics problems are worsening an economic slowdown, with shallow rivers for barge traffic exposing fragile inland supply routes, an under-invested railway system that can’t take on the extra capacity, and seaports that are still heaving with cargo.
Although The Rhine’s levels have rebounded a bit in recent days after low depths in the past weeks, German supply chains are still wobbling. Barges are carrying only 15-25% of their usual loads to decrease their weights.