During the first quarter of 2006 coal and ore throughput dropped 5% and 17% respectively. The drop in iron ore was attributed partly to the temporary shutdown at Germany's Essent Amercentrale blast furnace for urgent relining and maintenance, which reduced demand by 500,000t, and partly to another mill drawing down on its current stock levels. The main factor, however, was the low Rhine water levels that reduced barge transport capacity to Germany, increased stockpiles and resulted in some traffic having to be diverted.
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