In the first quarter of 2014 total throughput in the Port of Hamburg reached 35.6 million tons, representing 8.6 percent growth.
Both general cargo throughput totalling 25.2 million tons (+ 10.8 percent), and bulk cargo throughput at 10.4 million tons (+ 3.5 percent), ensured especially strong growth for Germany’s largest universal port.
“In the first quarter of 2014 we in the Port of Hamburg succeeded in maintaining the previous year’s positive growth trend,” said Axel Mattern, CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing, at the presentation of the Port of Hamburg’s quarterly results.
“Our outstanding growth rate of 8.6 percent enabled us to further extend our very sound competitive position in comparison to Northern Europe’s other major seaports.”
“Against the background of the current situation on building sites within the port, in the Elbe tunnel and on the A7 autobahn, which have especially affected truck traffic for limited periods, that is a striking achievement on throughput.”
Success was powered mainly by container throughput at 2.4 million TEU (20-ft standard containers) in the first three months of the year, an advance of 8.0 percent.
Growth in container traffic was attributable both to strong exports, which at 1.1 million TEU were up by 7.8 percent, and also an excellent trend in imports, which at 1.2 million TEU achieved an increase of 8.1 percent.
