# Rhine Levels to Fall Again, Barge Rates Near Record

> Forecasts indicate Rhine water levels will decline, with barge clearance at the Kaub chokepoint potentially falling to 5 centimeters by November 9. Reduced navigability is extending cargo movement constraints from Rotterdam, while fuel barge rates on the Rotterdam–Basel route are near record levels.

- Date: 2026-11-05 · published 2026-11-06T21:10:49.782Z
- Category: logistics · region Europe · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/84887-rhine-levels-to-fall-again-barge-rates-near-record
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [ULSD / Diesel](https://feedsoft.ai/c/DIESEL.md)

## Why it matters

Shallow water limits barge loading and available cargo capacity, pushing inland freight costs higher and potentially raising delivered costs for feed and energy inputs transported along the Rhine.

## Read by commodity

- BARGE: bullish ▲
- DIESEL: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | 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% | — |
| DIESEL | 2026-10-15 | [Grain Shipping Rates Surge 34% Year-Over-Year \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16757-grain-shipping-rates-surge-34-year-over-year-feed-and-grain.md) | +1.1% | — |
| DIESEL | 2021-10-28 | [Barge Shipments Grind Lower \| Red River Farm Network](https://feedsoft.ai/events/44433-barge-shipments-grind-lower-red-river-farm-network.md) | -3.1% | -5.3% |
| DIESEL | 2021-05-13 | [Mississippi River may reopen to barge traffic in 24-48 hours \| Air Freight News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/47304-mississippi-river-may-reopen-to-barge-traffic-in-24-48-hours-air-freight-news.md) | -3.1% | +3.3% |

## Sources

- gazewire.com: https://gazewire.com/economy/trade-and-supply-chains/rhine-water-levels-set-to-fall-again-keeping-barge-rates-near-records

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