With a total throughput of 132.1 million tonnes, representing a growth of 4.8%, the Port of Hamburg has achieved its best-ever result in 2014.
According to a company press release, 2014 throughput records were possible because port customers and shipowners rely on Hamburg and value the port’s high quality performance.
At 9.7 million TEU, Hamburg’s container throughput increased by 5.1% percent, which is above average for ports in Northern Europe, while remaining just below a record 10 million TEU that is now the aim for 2015.
Strong growth in container throughput is primarily attributable to a 9.8% jump in container services with China.
Growth was powered mainly by coal imports at 5.5 million tonnes (up by 6.9%) and ore imports at 8.9 million tonnes (up by 4.4%).
Axel Mattern of the Port of Hamburg’s Marketing Executive Board, said: “In 2014 Hamburg’s feat of boosting container throughput by 5.1% meant that it did extremely well by comparison with its European competitors. Hamburg is gaining market share in this segment.
“Average container throughput in the major ports of Northern Europe was up by 4.2%. Hamburg has thus consolidated its position as Europe’s second largest port. In the worldwide ranking of container ports, Hamburg remains in fifteenth place.”
(Source: Hafen-Hamburg)
