Rhine’s improvement eases feedstock supply at BASF’s Ludwigshafen site, some barges fully loading

LONDON (ICIS)–Rainfall in the last few days has led to an improvement on the River Rhine’s water levels, with some barges now able to fully load, according to a spokesperson for the German federal waterways authority (BAFG) on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for German chemicals major BASF says this improvement has allowed a certain stabilisation of raw materials supply to its Ludwigshafen complex.

Rhine water levels rose on Tuesday to 122cm, more than double the average levels over the previous four months at just below 60cm.

With Rhine levels now expected to rise to 150cm by midweek, BASF said that it “anticipates that ships already loaded and chartered in advance will now be able to head back” to its Ludwigshafen site, stabilising the supply of raw materials.

However, the spokesperson added that it would take some time before all processes return to normal.

Moreover, it added that the company is still pursuing “alternative shipping methods” of shipping along the river.

The company had already confirmed the latter to ICIS in November.

“It will take some time for logistics, raw material supply, warehouse ranges and production to return to normal, so alternative shipping methods are still pursued,” said the spokesperson.

“The duration will depend in particular on the further development of the water levels.”

Since low water levels on the Rhine became critical, BASF has had to declare force majeure on a number of products due to logistical difficulties.

Date	Product	Type	Story	Status
3 August	Diisononyl terephthalate (DINP)	Force majeure	Click here	Ongoing
3 August	Diisononyl cyclohexane dicarboxylate (DINCH)	Force majeure	Click here	Ongoing
10 October	Di-propyl heptyl phthalate (DPHP)	Force majeure	Click here	Ongoing
24 October	Isobutanol (IBA)	Force majeure	Click here	Ongoing
24 October	N-butanol (NBA)	Force majeure	Click here	Lifted
18 October	Butyl-acrylate (butyl-A)	Force majeure	Click here	Lifted
18 October	2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA)	Force majeure	Click here	Ongoing
18 October	Ethyl-acrylate (ethyl-A)	Force majeure	Click here	Lifted
24 October	Butyl acetate (butac)	Force majeure	Click here	Lifted
25 October	Methacrylic acid (MAA)	Force majeure	Click here	Lifted
26 October	Styrenics	Production cutbacks	Click here	Ongoing
26 November	Toluene di-isocyanate (TDI)	Production halted	Click here	Ongoing

The drastic improvement in Rhine water levels came as a surprise to many sources in the European petrochemicals industry, which uses the Rhine as a key transport waterway.

In fact, the BAFG had said on 22 November that “the current weather situation and forecasts show no sign of improvement”, adding that a longer period of rainfall is necessary to restore water resources.

On 22 October, the Rhine water levels at key gauging point Kaub hit the lowest point on record, standing at a mere 25cm, with levels scarcely rising above 50cm since then (see interactive chart below).

A spokesperson for BAFG told ICIS on Tuesday that water levels along the Rhine are rising significantly after rich rainfalls in the Rhine-catchment area.

“Within the next two days, the longer-term mean water level (224cm for the decade 2000-2010) will be reached at the gauging station Kaub.”

“Water levels of more than 200cm in Kaub should allow small and mid-size barges to load fully.

“Barges with a maxiumm draught of 3.0m or more will still travel partly loaded,” the spokesperson added.

Pictured: BASF’s Ludwigshafen site, archive image
Source: BASF

(releads and adds commentary from BAFG)