Record-low water levels in major European rivers are disrupting transport, power generation and business activity amid ongoing heatwaves and drought, according to multiple reports. Power plants—including hydropower and nuclear facilities—face reduced output as river flow and water availability decline, lowering electricity generation. The impact extends to cargo transport: shipping along major waterways, including routes such as the Danube and Rhine, is slowed, and river transport that normally moves goods such as grain and oil is affected. Ports and logistics operations linked to these waterways, including Rotterdam, experience operational challenges as reduced river levels constrain vessel movement. The economic effects are also reflected in company performance, with reports citing lower earnings tied to these disruptions. Authorities and industry stakeholders continue to track worsening conditions as dry weather persists, affecting not only freight operations and energy supply but also related sectors such as tourism and broader economic activity linked to the rivers’ usual levels.