Rhine water levels have risen following recent rainfall, Germany's inland navigation agency WSV reported on August 31, though shipping constraints remain unresolved. 

In August, the river hit record lows, raising transport costs, disrupting logistics, and reducing industrial output.

On August 31, the gauge at the key Kaub bottleneck near Koblenz stood at 72 cm, up from 60 cm on Friday – well above the mid-August low of under 10 cm, which had surpassed the previous 25 cm record set in 2018. The actual navigation depth is about one metre more than the gauge reading. 

Vessels can now carry more cargo but still sail only partially loaded, as full loads require a gauge of roughly 1.5 meters at Kaub. Consequently, shipments are split among multiple ships, raising costs, and much freight has been shifted to road and rail. 

"Some rain is forecast this week but any improvement will depend on how much actually falls," a commodity trader noted. The WSV predicts water levels may dip again later this week, though they should stay well above early-August lows. 

This summer's heatwaves and scarce rainfall across Germany and other European countries have repeatedly lowered waterways like the Rhine, a crucial route for grain, minerals, coal, and refined oil products.