Danube, record low levels in Hungary - Water transport interrupted. Fears of significant economic damage grow
A prolonged heat wave and severe drought this summer have caused the Danube River to reach record low levels in Hungary, disrupting water transport and raising fears of significant economic damage as the autumn harvest approaches.
The situation has brought freight traffic on the Hungarian part of the Danube to an almost complete standstill and international tourist ships have been unable to reach the capital.
"Freight transport on the Danube has become almost impossible. In some sections of the downstream, ships can operate with minimal loads, while in the Hungarian section, most ships simply cannot pass at all. This is disrupting normal freight transport operations and logistics chains, which is a very serious problem not only for Hungary, but for the whole of Europe," said Szalma Botond, executive vice-president of the Federation of National Associations of Shipbrokers and Agents (FONASBA).
As the autumn grain harvest approaches, Hungary expects to export large volumes of wheat, corn and other agricultural products via the Danube. If cargo ships are unable to sail fully loaded - or are unable to leave port at all - logistics costs will increase, profit margins will shrink and the competitiveness of Hungarian agricultural products on international markets will suffer severely, Botond warned.
"This should be the peak sales season for agricultural goods. But unfortunately, they will be overstocked and become unsold. This means that the planned GDP growth for this year will only be hindered by the drought and the disruption of shipping on the Danube," he said.
Exacerbating the crisis, low water levels in the Danube have forced Paks, Hungary's only nuclear power plant, to partially shut down due to a lack of coolant.
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