# Another Drop in Rhine Water Levels Risks Even Higher Barge Rates

> Rhine water levels are forecast to fall again in the coming days, with the Kaub barge clearance expected to drop to as little as 5 centimeters. Diesel barge rates from Rotterdam to Basel have risen again this month and are near a record since 2018. Low water and rail maintenance have also disrupted inland deliveries of goods including coal and grain.

- Date: 2026-11-05 · published 2026-11-05T15:08:14.449Z
- Category: logistics · region Europe · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/81920-another-drop-in-rhine-water-levels-risks-even-higher-barge-rates
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [ULSD / Diesel](https://feedsoft.ai/c/DIESEL.md)

## Why it matters

Shallow Rhine conditions raise freight costs and limit barge loads for grain and feed ingredients moving inland from Rotterdam, tightening regional supply and supporting higher delivered prices in Europe.

## Read by commodity

- BARGE: bullish ▲
- DIESEL: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DIESEL | 2021-07-11 | [Fuel costs push rates higher faster in 2021 - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/46244-fuel-costs-push-rates-higher-faster-in-2021-freightwaves.md) | -2.1% | -3.4% |
| DIESEL | 2026-03-24 | [Diesel prices surge even higher due to Iran war, surpassing $5.38 \| Trucking Dive](https://feedsoft.ai/events/20341-diesel-prices-surge-even-higher-due-to-iran-war-surpassing-5-38-trucking-dive.md) | +7.5% | -8.1% |
| DIESEL | 2022-03-17 | [U.S. Grain Barge Freight Rates Skyrocket \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/42461-u-s-grain-barge-freight-rates-skyrocket-feed-and-grain.md) | +32.3% | +20.2% |
| DIESEL | 2023-03-24 | [Another rail strike in Germany to add to European freight troubles - The Loadstar](https://feedsoft.ai/events/36877-another-rail-strike-in-germany-to-add-to-european-freight-troubles-the-loadstar.md) | -1.9% | -7.1% |
| DIESEL | 2026-10-22 | [Record diesel costs push grain freight rates higher across all modes \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17227-record-diesel-costs-push-grain-freight-rates-higher-across-all-modes-feed-and.md) | -5.5% | — |

## Sources

- swissinfo.ch: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/another-drop-in-rhine-water-levels-risks-even-higher-barge-rates/92334037

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.