WATER levels on the Rhine are set to fall close the point when the river would be closed to navigation, reports Bloomberg.
This would put the trade of huge quantities of goods at risk as the continent seeks to stave off looming economic crisis.
The river at Kaub, Germany - a key waypoint for the shipment of commodities - is set to drop to 47 centimeters (18.5 inches) by the weekend. That would take it to within seven centimeters of being all but impassable.
Europe is already facing its worst energy-supply crunch in decades as Russia chokes off natural gas, stoking inflation. An impassable river could halt the flow of everything from fuel to chemicals as governments try to prevent the energy crisis from tipping the region into recession.
Snaking roughly 800 miles from Switzerland to the North Sea, the Rhine is vital for deliveries and exports of heating oil, gasoline, coal and other commodities.
'With the Rhine transport disrupted and alternatives such as rail and road looking increasingly expensive, it will be difficult for Germany and Switzerland to build gasoil/diesel stocks before temperatures cool,' said Josh Folds, a European oil analyst at consultants Facts Global Energy.
'This is especially true given the situation with Russian gasoil/diesel imports,' he said.
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This would put the trade of huge quantities of goods at risk as the continent seeks to stave off looming economic crisis.
The river at Kaub, Germany - a key waypoint for the shipment of commodities - is set to drop to 47 centimeters (18.5 inches) by the weekend. That would take it to within seven centimeters of being all but impassable.
Europe is already facing its worst energy-supply crunch in decades as Russia chokes off natural gas, stoking inflation. An impassable river could halt the flow of everything from fuel to chemicals as governments try to prevent the energy crisis from tipping the region into recession.
Snaking roughly 800 miles from Switzerland to the North Sea, the Rhine is vital for deliveries and exports of heating oil, gasoline, coal and other commodities.
'With the Rhine transport disrupted and alternatives such as rail and road looking increasingly expensive, it will be difficult for Germany and Switzerland to build gasoil/diesel stocks before temperatures cool,' said Josh Folds, a European oil analyst at consultants Facts Global Energy.
'This is especially true given the situation with Russian gasoil/diesel imports,' he said.
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