The Rhine river level is rising after the rains in Germany

Rainfall in recent days has caused the Rhine to rise in Germany, improving navigation conditions on one of Europe's most important waterways, traders said Monday.

In April, a period of drought had significantly reduced the river level, preventing cargo ships from traveling at full capacity. Some vessels could only carry about half their cargo, forcing ship owners to impose surcharges on freight and increasing logistics costs for businesses.

Thanks to recent rainfall, ships can now generally sail with loads between 70% and 90% of their capacity, compared to around 50% at the beginning of the previous week.

River traffic has returned to near-normal levels on several sections of the northern Rhine, particularly around Duisburg and Cologne. However, at the strategic Kaub crossing, cargo ships remain limited to approximately 70% of their capacity.

Traders believe, however, that the water level at Kaub could rise further in the coming days, potentially allowing a return to full loads by the end of the week, as rainwater continues to feed the river.