Port of Hamburg handled 1.9 million TEUs in the first quarter of 2024, representing a slight 1.1% growth compared to the same period last year.
At the same time, the German port’s box throughput by tonnage also increased by 0.7% to 19 million tonnes.
Axel Mattern, CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing, explains, “The development of container throughput suggests that, despite the current events in the Red Sea, trade is stabilising and the recovery process is continuing.”
However, Mattern pointed out that “the quarterly results cover a short period of time and are not indicative of throughput trends for the remainder of the year.”
Total seaborne cargo throughput in the first three months of this year was 27.4 million tonnes, translating to a year-on-year decrease of 3.3%. The main reason for this, according to the port officials, is a lower turnover in bulk goods at 8.2 million tonnes, representing a decline of 11.9% compared to the previous year. Noteworthy is the decrease in liquid cargo, which is attributable to currently high inventory levels.
A look at the Port of Hamburg’s strongest container shipping routes reveals a remarkable record in throughput with the United States. In the first three months, 179,000 TEUs were handled, corresponding to an increase of 17.7%. At the same time, box traffic with China remained in the lead, with 536,000 TEUs and an increase of 2.9%.
In total, the Port of Hamburg handled 625,400 TEUs of transshipment traffic, representing a 3% increase compared to the same period last year.
Moreover, seaport-hinterland transport by rail remained stable in the first quarter. Container throughput increased by 0.9% to 641,000 TEUs. Rail transport therefore accounts for more than half of container hinterland traffic.
