Germany’s largest steel producer, Thyssenkrupp, says its Duisburg-based steel mill continues production despite low water levels in the Rhine threatening to halt shipping. While the company says it has some options, including reserves of raw materials held at the site, if shipping stops it could force a serious reduction of production which will affect year-end profits.
The steel mill receives 60,000 tons of iron ore and coal per day. This requires at least six of the largest river vessels. Shipments by rail would require between 500 and 1,000 rail cars per day. This is a huge number. By road it would be impossible. “Shifting even a portion of these quantities to road transport is not a realistic solution,” a spokeswoman is quoted by Die Welt as warning.
Duisburg is below the critical middle Rhine region, and therefore closer to Rotterdam or Antwerp, so if the middle Rhine is blocked, supplies could still reach the city.
