Container handling at the Port of Hamburg remained stable in the first half of 2024, with 3.8 million TEUs processed, maintaining a consistent trend in both transhipment and continental traffic.
The ongoing energy transition is becoming more apparent, especially with the reduction in coal volumes, which has led to a decline in bulk cargo throughput. During this period, the German port managed a total of 55.9 million tonnes of seaborne cargo. Despite this, there was significant growth in both container ship calls and the proportion of rail transport in hinterland traffic.
From January to June, the Port of Hamburg processed 3.8 million TEUs, nearly matching the volume from the first half of the previous year (-0.3%).
Loaded container volumes saw a slight increase of 0.5%, reaching 3.4 million TEUs. The handling of conventional general cargo also showed positive results, growing by 4.3% to 585,000 tonnes. Overall, general cargo throughput remained steady at 39.2 million tonnes.
Total seaborne cargo throughput in the first half of the year reached 55.9 million tonnes at the major European port, marking a 3.9% year-on-year decline.
The impact of the energy transition is becoming increasingly clear in bulk cargo handling, particularly due to the decline in coal volumes. This drop also contributed to an overall decrease in bulk cargo throughput, which fell by 12.1% to 16.7 million tonnes.
Among the top ten trading partners, Malaysia stood out in the first six months of the year, with cargo volume increasing by 14.7% to 88,000 TEUs, placing it in the tenth position. US trade also continued its upward trend, with 341,000 TEUs handled—a 9% increase—solidifying the United States as Hamburg’s second-largest trading partner. China maintained its top position, with a total of 1.1 million TEUs (-2.2%). Turkey continued its positive trend from the past four years, with a 26.7% increase compared to the same period last year. The country now ranks twelfth in Hamburg’s trade volume, having moved up six places in the first half of 2024.
The number of container ships calling at the Port of Hamburg slightly increased in the first half of 2024, with an uptick of nearly 1%. This growth was mainly driven by medium-sized and smaller vessels, as calls by large container ships with over 10,000 TEU capacity declined across all size classes compared to the same period last year. This trend reflects the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea, where disruptions caused by Houthi rebels have led shipping companies to opt for the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope. This detour extends sailing times to and from Asia by up to 15 days and has prompted adjustments in liner services. On the positive side, additional liner services are now calling at Hamburg.
The provision of shore power for container, cruise, and inland waterway vessels in the Port of Hamburg is gaining traction, with new facilities recently coming online.
An increasing number of shippers are opting for rail as a sustainable mode of transport in hinterland traffic, further solidifying rail’s dominant role in Hamburg’s seaport-hinterland operations. Despite challenges from line closures and extensive construction work, rail’s share of TEU rose to 50.8% in the first half of the year, with 1.3 million TEUs handled, representing a 3.1% increase. In terms of tonnage, rail transport’s share grew by 1.2%, reaching 23.4 million tonnes.
