The following release was published by Port of Hamburg:
- Container throughput increases by 9.3 percent to 4.2 million TEU
- Seaborne cargo throughput (57.8 million tonnes) up 3.6 percent
- Trade with the Far East and the Baltic Sea region drives growth
- Strong growth in transhipment
- Container hinterland transport shows stable upward trend
Despite continued subdued economic development and a tense geopolitical situation, the Port of Hamburg is showing stable growth and regained market share compared to the two major western ports in the first half of 2025. Strong growth in the container segment in the first half of 2025 contributed significantly to a solid increase in seaborne cargo throughput. Throughput of bulk goods and conventional general cargo decreased slightly. Moreover, new liner services strengthened Hamburg's role in international sea freight transport. Container hinterland connections continued their positive development, while transhipment traffic recorded a very strong half-year result.
Container throughput drives growth
Seaborne cargo throughput grew to 57.8 million tonnes in the months from January to June 2025 (+3.6 percent year-on-year). This is largely due to strong growth of 9.3 percent in container throughput to 4.2 million standard containers (TEU). Double-digit growth of 11.6 percent was recorded for imports, while container throughput for exports increased by 6.9 percent. On a per-tonne basis, containerised general cargo throughput grew to 41.2 million tonnes (+6.8 percent). "We are delighted that the Port of Hamburg is able to benefit to this extent from new liner services and the restructuring of the shipping companies. In comparison with competing ports, Hamburg is thus able to set an extremely positive example and gain market share," says Axel Mattern, CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing.
Conventional general cargo throughput and bulk cargo throughput (-3.7 percent to 0.6 million tonnes and -3.8 percent to 16.0 million tonnes respectively) fell slightly in the first six months of the current year. There was an increase to 4.7 million tonnes (+10.3 percent) in the liquid cargo segment, but reductions in the grabbable cargo (-6.6 percent to 8.5 million tonnes) and agricultural goods (-13.9 percent to 2.9 million tonnes) segments. The declining demand for coal and ore had a renewed impact on the throughput of grabbable goods. In the agribulk sector, significantly lower grain exports (-80.8 percent to 852,000 tonnes) impacted the result, despite rising imports of oilseed crops (+8.9 percent to 1.7 million tonnes).
Markets in Asia and the Baltic Sea region show positive trends
The growth in container throughput was primarily generated by the Far East (+10.7 percent year-on-year to 1.8 million TEU) and Baltic Sea (+20.8 percent to 734,000 TEU) trade lanes. In Asia, Malaysia (+93.2 percent to 169,000 TEU), which benefited from changes in transhipment routes, India (+41.6 percent to 137,000 TEU) and China (+10.5 percent to 1.2 million TEU) proved to be strong growth markets for throughput in the Port of Hamburg. Container throughput increased significantly in trade with countries bordering the Baltic Sea, particularly with Denmark (+36.0 percent to 98,000 TEU), Finland (+20.1 percent to 125,000 TEU), and Poland (+28.8 percent to 182,000 TEU). Among the Port of Hamburg's most important partner countries, only the USA recorded a decline (-19.3 percent to 275,000 TEU), which can also be attributed to the upheavals caused by the US administration's trade policy.
More ship calls – in particular large container ships
Compared to the same period last year, a total of 0.7 percent more ships with capacity for container cargo called at the Port of Hamburg. The number of calls by large container ships with capacity for more than 10,000 TEU rose sharply again across all size classes (+51.6 percent to 285). Calls by ship units with capacities exceeding 24,000 TEU also recorded significant growth once again compared to the first half of 2024 (+29.6 percent to 127).
New liner services linking the Port of Hamburg with the Mediterranean, Middle East, Far East and India trade lanes had a positive impact. In addition, the container carriers have adapted better to rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope, such that the number of ship calls has stabilised.
Transhipment and container hinterland transport still on the upswing
The growth in throughput also had a positive impact on the Port of Hamburg's container hinterland transport, which increased by 2.2 percent year-on-year to 2.6 million TEU. Transhipment throughput grew even more strongly. It amounted to 1.6 million TEU in the first half of 2025, which corresponds to growth of 23.8 percent. "With renewed growth in container hinterland transport, the Port of Hamburg is maintaining a long-term trend. It will once again live up to its role as a hub between the markets in the Far East and Northern Europe, particularly the Baltic Sea region. The greater combined ship widths in the passing box off Wedel, which have been tested since April, now allow for a more flexible organisation of traffic. With the transformation of the Waltershofer Hafen and the associated expansion of the turning circle now underway, we are launching pioneering projects and sending important signals to ensure that these developments continue in the future," explains Friedrich Stuhrmann, CCO at Hamburg Port Authority.
Source: Port of Hamburg