EU: Transport a huge problem for maltsters and brewers

For maltsters and brewers transport has become a huge problem, H. M. Gauger GmbH said in their early August report.

First of all, barges, railways and trucks moved toward the Ukrainian border to support the export of Ukrainian produce.

Then, the need to reactivate coal power plants has shifted part of the barge fleet from grain to coal transport. Freight rates from Metz to German Rhine stations have tripled.

The third factor is: water levels in the Rhine and other rivers are dramatically low. A 2,000 tonnes rhine barge can load just about 600 tonnes at present, freight rates must compensate for the smaller load.

And lastly, in the EU 100,000 truck drivers are missing since pandemic and Brexit.

The result is industries and consumers experience not only the higher cost, but also huge and damaging delays.

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