SunSirs: Freight Rates Surge 2-3 Fold; European Petrochemical Market Faces Chain-Reaction Challenges

As the persistent drought in Europe continues to worsen, water levels on the Rhine River, Europe's core chemical waterway, have repeatedly hit record lows, with inland shipping capacity nearly halved . As a result, logistics, raw material supply and plant production across Europe's petrochemical industry are under full pressure, with multiple industrial chains including olefins, aromatics, methanol and additives facing issues such as supply contraction, soaring freight rates and frequent force majeure incidents at production facilities . Industry institutions have warned that if the extreme low-water weather persists, the delivery costs of European chemical products and the regional supply and demand pattern will further deteriorate in the fourth quarter, and the supply chain may experience chain disturbances.