Rhine River drought disrupts shipping and forces German production shutdowns.

Water levels on the Rhine River have dropped to near eight-year lows due to extreme heat and drought in Europe, severely impacting the flow of goods. The navigable depth at Kaub, a critical chokepoint, fell to 25 centimeters, matching a 2018 record. This disruption necessitates more ships to carry less cargo, increasing costs and potentially shaving up to 0.2 percentage points off German economic growth.