Freight rates $248 - a metric ton a year ago were €11.28 European drought devastating the German's Rhine barge traffic. When it rains, it pours. Last year, the country imported nearly two thirds of its coal via the river...
Without energy the smelters have a tough row to hoe... A significant source of the wprld's silver supply emanates from the base metal smelters
Shipper DTG Deutsche Transport Genossenschaft eG said its vessels were currently operating at as low as 25% of capacity. “Customers now need to charter up to four ships to transport the same amount of goods as before,” said DTG manager Roberto Spranzi.
Freight rates from the mouth of the Rhine in the Netherlands to Basel in Switzerland reached 240.32 euros, equivalent to $248, a metric ton last week, more than doubling from €111.92 a month ago, according to Lars van Wageningen, manager of operations at commodity market-research firm Insights Global. Quotes a year ago were just €11.28 a metric ton.
https://mishtalk.com/economics/german-costs-to-ship-by-barge-are-up-twenty-times-and-may-soon-be-impossible