Steel Industry Welcomes Proposal to Strengthen Rhine Shipping

The Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, Dr. Volker Wissing, aims to significantly accelerate the removal of critical bottlenecks on the Rhine. As announced on August 29 in Mainz during a discussion with industry and inland shipping, an acceleration commission consisting of politics, authorities, and industry will expedite the action plan “Low Water Rhine” decided in 2019.

(Berlin) In this context, Hans Jürgen Kerkhoff, President of the Economic Association Steel, stated: “The acceleration commission comes at the right time given the current low water levels. A swift removal of bottlenecks on the Middle and Lower Rhine is a crucial contribution to better protect Rhine shipping and its major industrial customers from risks during low water. The Rhine, as the most important inland waterway in Europe, holds central significance for the steel industry.”

36 Million Tons for the Steel Industry

In the summer of 2022, the ongoing drought has led to very low water levels on the Rhine, significantly complicating freight transport. The domestic steel industry is also affected: 36 million tons of goods for the steel industry are transported annually on German inland waterways. Inland shipping accounts for nearly 30 percent of the transport volume of the steel industry. The sector relies on a reliable supply of ore and coal, as it must produce continuously to avoid severe damage to central facilities such as coking plants or blast furnaces.

Photo: © Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl