Hamburg Port handles 114 million tonnes in strong 2025

February 20, 2026

The Port of Hamburg closed 2025 on a positive note, handling 114.6 million tonnes and recording a 2.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase.

Growth in the container segment was the main driver of the port’s strong performance.

Container throughput reached 8.3 million TEU, up 7.3 per cent YoY, with tonnage rising 4.6 per cent. Every quarter outperformed the same period in 2024: Q1 +6.3 per cent, Q2 +12.4 per cent, Q3 +6.7 per cent, Q4 +3.9 per cent.

Traffic from China (+6.5 per cent), India (+49.2 per cent) and Malaysia (+84.3 per cent) led the gains, along with Northern Europe routes (+21.2 per cent). By contrast, container traffic with the US fell 25.6 per cent, partly due to US tariffs.

Bulk cargo throughput totalled 32.4 million tonnes, down 1.7 per cent. Liquid bulk rose slightly (+0.7 per cent), while dry bulk fell 2.7 per cent, dragged down by a 45.8 per cent drop in grain exports.

READ: Port of Hamburg sees strong growth in Q3 2025

Fertilisers (-5.6 per cent) and ores (-4.3 per cent) also declined, whereas building materials (+19.5 per cent), other dry goods (+17.1 per cent) and chemicals (+16.3 per cent) saw gains.

Quarterly trends reflected volatility: Q1 +0.4 per cent, Q2 -6.6 per cent, Q3 +4.1 per cent, Q4 -4.6 per cent.

Friedrich Stuhrmann, Chief Commercial Officer at HPA, said: “2025 was a successful year for the Port of Hamburg. Positive growth across all quarters highlights the location’s competitiveness and strong demand in international goods traffic.”

Axel Mattern, CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing, added: “The throughput results underline Hamburg’s competitiveness and the attractiveness of our services. The near 50 per cent rise in container traffic with India, following the new EU-India free trade agreement, is particularly encouraging. This week’s delegation visit to India will further strengthen economic ties with the subcontinent.”

In November 2025, the Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM) Supervisory Board appointed economist Hendrik Meyn as a new Executive Board Member, joining Axel Mattern to form a two-person leadership team.