莱茵河正经历极端干旱，成为继霍尔木兹海峡、黑海港口和红海巴卜曼德海峡之后，又一条陷入危机的关键水道[1]。这条全长近1290公里、日均承载约6900艘船舶的欧洲运输枢纽[1]，目前的航运能力正在急剧恶化，威胁到沿岸化工厂、炼油厂、钢铁厂等工业设施的生产。
Kaub监测点的水位已跌至27厘米，为近期夏季最低[1]，预计本周将跌破2018年10月的25厘米记录，创至少36年新低[1]。关键阈值为78厘米，低于此水位大多数驳船必须减载以避免搁浅[1]。受此影响，驳船平均运载量已从通常的5100吨急剧下降至仅800吨[1]，而鹿特丹至Kaub以南目的地的每吨运费飙升至历史新高约150欧元（245美元），相比平时仅20欧元[1]。
德国化工巨头BASF警告称："没有莱茵河，西欧工业生产将会崩溃"[1]。德国官员预计这类历史性干旱的发生频率将从每60年一次变为每10-20年一次[1]。2018年的历史干旱曾导致德国经济增长下降数个百分点[1]，2026年可能面临相当或更严重的危机[1]。
The Rhine River, a vital artery for European industrial transportation, is approaching a critical shutdown as extreme drought has caused water levels to plummet to their lowest point in at least 36 years.[1] The Kaub monitoring station recorded a water level of just 27 centimeters on Tuesday, with predictions that it will fall below the 25-centimeter record set in October 2018 by the end of the week.[1] This crisis represents the fourth major global waterway under threat, joining the Strait of Hormuz, Black Sea ports, and the Red Sea's Bab el-Mandeb strait as critical chokepoints facing disruption.[1]
The consequences for European industry are severe and immediate.[1] The 1,290-kilometer-long river normally carries cargo for approximately 6,900 vessels daily, but the declining water levels have crippled barge operations below the critical 78-centimeter threshold.[1] Average barge capacity has collapsed from the typical 5,100 tons to merely 800 tons, while shipping costs from Rotterdam to destinations south of Kaub have skyrocketed to around 150 euros per ton—a historic high compared to the usual rate of 20 euros.[1] German chemicals giant BASF warned: "Without the Rhine, Western European industrial production will collapse."[1]
Looking ahead, the outlook remains troubling.[1] German officials anticipate that such extreme droughts will shift from occurring once every 60 years to once every 10 to 20 years, portending a structural crisis for the region's economy.[1] The 2018 drought alone reduced German economic growth by several percentage points, and officials warn that a 2026 crisis could prove equally severe or worse.[1]