WATER levels on the rhine have fallen with vessels often sailing only half full and prices for cargo transport rising, say commodity traders and shipbrokers, Reuters reports.
Shallow water after dry weather continues to hinder shipping on the river in Germany. Freight shipping on the river continues but with vessels often carrying greatly reduced loads.
Vessels were often sailing half to a quarter full depending on their type.
Water levels at the chokepoint of Kaub near Koblenz where the river is especially shallow have fallen again and some vessels there can only sail 30 per cent full.
The cost of transport for liquid cargo by barge between Rotterdam and Karlsruhe in Germany has risen to EUR78 (US$80) a tonne from only about EUR20 a tonne in June before water levels fell, a broker said.
Navigation authorities do not close the river during low water periods, instead vessel owners must themselves decide whether they can operate safely.
Alibaba lowers global plans as it fails to meet growth targets
CHINA's online retail giant Alibaba's push to rival Amazon by bringing US businesses on to its ecommerce platform has struggled to meet its targets, dealing a blow to its expansion plans, reports London's Financial Times.
The group launched Alibaba.com, its business-to-business ecommerce website, in the US three years ago with the aim of signing up more than 1 million local businesses and compete globally with the likes of Amazon, which has a similar platform for wholesalers.
But Alibaba.com's US operation has failed to meet its initial targets, forcing the Chinese company to readjust its growth plans, according to three people familiar with the operations. The project has also been hit by dozens of staff departures from its New York office.
The troubles at its US business-to-business arm come as Alibaba steps up its international push as its domestic operations continue to get hit by Beijing's tech crackdown, slowing economy and rising competition.
SeaNews Turkey
Shallow water after dry weather continues to hinder shipping on the river in Germany. Freight shipping on the river continues but with vessels often carrying greatly reduced loads.
Vessels were often sailing half to a quarter full depending on their type.
Water levels at the chokepoint of Kaub near Koblenz where the river is especially shallow have fallen again and some vessels there can only sail 30 per cent full.
The cost of transport for liquid cargo by barge between Rotterdam and Karlsruhe in Germany has risen to EUR78 (US$80) a tonne from only about EUR20 a tonne in June before water levels fell, a broker said.
Navigation authorities do not close the river during low water periods, instead vessel owners must themselves decide whether they can operate safely.
Alibaba lowers global plans as it fails to meet growth targets
CHINA's online retail giant Alibaba's push to rival Amazon by bringing US businesses on to its ecommerce platform has struggled to meet its targets, dealing a blow to its expansion plans, reports London's Financial Times.
The group launched Alibaba.com, its business-to-business ecommerce website, in the US three years ago with the aim of signing up more than 1 million local businesses and compete globally with the likes of Amazon, which has a similar platform for wholesalers.
But Alibaba.com's US operation has failed to meet its initial targets, forcing the Chinese company to readjust its growth plans, according to three people familiar with the operations. The project has also been hit by dozens of staff departures from its New York office.
The troubles at its US business-to-business arm come as Alibaba steps up its international push as its domestic operations continue to get hit by Beijing's tech crackdown, slowing economy and rising competition.
SeaNews Turkey
