The Kiel Canal is experiencing declining ship passages and cargo volumes due to sanctions against Russia. The annual report presented on Thursday shows transported cargo down to 69.5 million tons. The Kiel-Canal Initiative calls for measures to boost the waterway's appeal.
The Kiel Canal, one of the world's busiest waterways, is grappling with several challenges. According to the annual report presented on Thursday, transported cargo fell to 69.5 million tons last year, compared to 75.6 million tons in 2024. Heiko Böschen, head of the Seeschifffahrt department at the Generaldirektion Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrt (GDWS), called this a "respectable result" given the collapsed Russia traffic.
Sanctions against Russia related to the war of aggression in Ukraine are the main cause. Last year, only 531 ships to or from Russian ports carried 1.85 million tons of cargo through the canal. In 2021, there were 2,771 ships with over 14 million tons.
The number of ship passages dropped to 22,262, a 10.5 percent decline from 24,866 the previous year. However, the gross register tonnage rose to 5,750 from 5,688, as ships grow larger. Böschen explained: "The sheer number of ships is not relevant for the NOK's balance, as small ships carry less cargo." Recreational boats also decreased: 10,685 last year versus 11,542 before.
On a positive note, investments totaled 246 million euros, the second-highest amount after 297 million the previous year, as reported by Martin Boll from the Küste Management department. The federal government added 71 million euros for maintenance and operations. Construction of the fifth lock chamber in Brunsbüttel is set to finish by the end of 2026. Over the past 15 years, around one billion euros have been invested, with two billion more planned.
The Kiel-Canal Initiative expresses concern. Chairman Jens B. Knudsen demands deepening by at least one meter and a strategic turnaround: "The canal is not a mandatory route for many shipowners but an option – and that's why reliability, speed, and predictability matter." Since 2023, a speed limit of 12 knots has been in place, prolonging passages and making the Skagen route more appealing. Knudsen warns: "For shipowners, it's ultimately about the overall equation of time, costs, and predictability. If the canal remains slower and less predictable long-term, it loses attractiveness compared to the alternative route via Skagen." The first section of the eastern stretch expansion was opened in November with Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU).
