Europe’s major rivers, including the Rhine and the Danube, are hitting historic lows, exposing riverbeds, stranding vessels, and forcing energy plants to shut down or drastically reduce output.
Record‑breaking heatwaves and prolonged drought have pushed water levels to their lowest points in nearly 150 years, disrupting the transport of chemicals, grains, oil, and industrial goods across the continent. Freight costs have surged as barges are forced to carry lighter loads, creating bottlenecks that ripple through supply chains.