Presa franceză: În România, avântul transportului fluvial către Ucraina e frânat de secetă și bombardamente / ”Nu-mi rămâne decât să aștept ca Dumnezeu să ne trimită ploaie”

The demand for river transport to Ukraine has surged due to the bombing of Black Sea ports, but Romanian barges struggle with drought-related capacity issues. Smaller Danube ports like Ismail and Reni are crucial for maintaining Ukraine's connection to Europe. Despite increased transport rates, the number of available barges is insufficient to meet the demand for Ukrainian grain. Drought has forced operators to load barges at only 30% capacity, impacting operations significantly. Future navigation challenges may arise if low water levels persist, potentially leading to job cuts in the sector. EU-funded projects aim to improve navigation conditions, but completion is not expected until 2028.