The Port of Hamburg reported a modest 0.9 per cent increase in container throughput, reaching 7.8 million TEUs despite the economic and geopolitical challenges of 2024.
According to the port, the positive trend in container traffic with the US continued last year, while container throughput with China recovered.
Axel Mattern, Member of the Executive Board at Port of Hamburg Marketing, commented: “The annual result highlights the Port of Hamburg’s resilience in a challenging market environment.
“Most notably, the high proportion of loaded container throughput indicates that shippers regard the port as a reliable partner and a strong link in the global logistics chain.”
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The port recorded a significant share of loaded containers, with 87 per cent of the total throughput attributed to this category.
In total, 78.7 million tonnes of general cargo were handled, including 77.5 million tonnes in containers. Furthermore, conventional general cargo throughput increased by 8.7 per cent to 1.3 million tonnes.
China, the port’s most important trading partner, saw a 0.7 per cent increase in throughput to 2.2 million TEUs. Meanwhile, trade with the US reached a new record, growing by 5 per cent to 685,000 TEUs.
India experienced a growth of 2.1 per cent, and Sri Lanka also showed a strong performance with a 12.4 per cent increase in throughput.
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Despite the challenges posed by global shipping security concerns, such as the crisis in the Red Sea, the total number of ship calls to Hamburg rose by 0.3 per cent.
The trend of larger Megamax container vessels calling at the port saw increased per-call throughput, with these vessels averaging over 10,000 TEUs, marking a 20 per cent rise.
In the bulk cargo sector, decarbonisation trends affected throughput, with a notable decline in coal and mineral oil product imports. However, there was a 5.6 per cent rise in oilseed crop imports and a 9.4 per cent increase in animal feed exports.
“The result underlines our position as the largest rail port in Europe and consolidates our market leadership,” Mattern concluded.
