Monday, June 23, 2025
Home News German box ports' hinterland rail freight on uptrend

German box ports’ hinterland rail freight on uptrend

The German Federal Logistics and Mobility Office (BALM) conducted an extensive analysis on the evolution of container transportation via water and rail over an extended period.

As per the analysis, rail-based container transport in Germany witnessed a significant surge of approximately 86% from just under 4.2 million TEUs to around 7.7 million TEUs between 2005 and 2022.

This notable increase was primarily driven by favourable developments in the hinterland of the Port of Hamburg, according to the analysis, while the growth is largely credited to the escalating proportion of rail freight within the overall modal split.

Similarly, Bremerhaven observed an increase in the modal share of rail freight, albeit with relatively lower absolute growth in container transportation by rail.

Container volumes on German inland waterways experienced a gradual increase from around 2.1 million TEUs in 2005 to just under 2.6 million TEUs in 2017, followed by a gradual decline to nearly 2 million TEUs in 2022.

This decline began in 2018 due to extended periods of low water levels on German rivers, particularly impacting navigation on the Rhine, especially in southern Germany. This, combined with a significant increase in the cost of inland waterway transport, prompted a shift towards alternative transportation modes.

Despite efforts to mitigate these challenges, the volume loss in the hinterland of key seaports like Rotterdam and Antwerp, crucial for inland container transport due to their strategic location, could not always be fully compensated by inland waterway transport.





Latest Posts

Kota Oasis makes inaugural call at Lomé

PIL has announced that its latest “O”-Class vessel, Kota Oasis, made its inaugural call at the Port of Lomé, Togo. Following a successful first stop...

MSC reaches capacity milestone further cementing its position

MSC has crossed a significant milestone, with its total container fleet capacity exceeding 6.6 million TEUs, securing a commanding 20.5% share of the global...

Shipping risks rise as Taiwan Strait emerges as strategic flashpoint

China’s military blasted the Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Spey for its deliberate attempt to cause trouble as the vessel threaded the Taiwan Strait. Britain’s...

Maersk suspends calls to Haifa amid rising regional tensions

Maersk has decided to temporarily suspend vessel calls to the Port of Haifa, Israel, as well as halt cargo acceptance for this destination. In light...

Strait of Hormuz tensions put global shipping and markets on edge

The weekend US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities have pushed the maritime community onto what one operator called maximum alert. ...
error: Content is protected !!