Cargo volumes at the Port of Hamburg grew last year despite a generally difficult environment. Germany's largest universal port also reported double-digit growth in its seaport-hinterland transport.
In a statement, Port of Hamburg said its seaborne cargo throughput was up by 1.1% at 136.6 million tons, amid a slowdown in worldwide trade and trade sanctions.
In the seaport-hinterland transport segment, the Port of Hamburg, said its environment-friendly container transport by rail achieved double-digit growth. In 2019 a total of 2.7 million TEU were transported between the terminals in the Port of Hamburg and those in the hinterland, representing a 10.4% increase — also setting a fresh record for Hamburg’s Port Railway.
In 2019, this handled some 62,000 freight trains with around 1.7 million boxcars. Total freight volume transported was up by 3% at 48.2 million tons.
“The marked increase in container handling, growth in total seaborne cargo throughput, and the disproportionate leap in environment-friendly railborne hinterland traffic, all show that the Port of Hamburg is on the right course," said Senator Michael Westhagemann.
In 2019, the Port said 5.8 million TEU – up by 7.8% – and 97.5 million tons – up by 0.8% – were shifted in seaport-hinterland transport by rail, truck and inland waterway. The rail share of hinterland transport to/from Hamburg was 46.3% of containers, and 1% up at 49.4% by tonnage.
The corresponding share for trucking was 41.4% and for inland waterway craft, 9.2%.
“In achieving a new record, Hamburg further extended its position as Europe’s leading rail port. Transferring freight shipments to rail and inland waterways helps to relieve pressure on roads,” said Ingo Egloff, Joint CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing.
"This strong position is very largely based on the significant number of more than 100 liner services linking Hamburg with the great majority of over 1,000 seaports around the world," he added.
Additional cargo volumes from Asia
The four newly-inaugurated transatlantic liner services is also bringing the Port a "substantial growth" in container transport with the USA and Mexico, it said.
A new service to Asia and one to India, along with two multi-purpose services, is also producing additional cargo.
“We are continuing dedicated investment in infrastructure and digitalization to keep the port on the successful course we have adopted. In recent weeks, for example, HPA achieved important milestones with the construction of the new Kattwyk rail bridge and the new Burchardkai link. Both will make our port more efficient and fit for the future," said Jens Meier, CEO of Hamburg Port Authority.
In 2019 a total of 2.6 million TEU – up 1.7% – were handled in seaborne container traffic with China, Hamburg’s most important trading partner.
Impact of coronavirus
“For the moment it remains impossible to be precise about the repercussions of the corona virus on volumes in foreign trade with China. Depending on how long restrictions last in the Chinese economy, a marked downswing could occur. With some delay, that would then be reflected in freight handling to/from China in Hamburg. We can only assess the position at the end of the quarter, at the earliest,” said Axel Mattern of the HHM’s Executive Board.
HHM’s Executive Board also assumes that "downturns in rail transport between China and Hamburg can also be expected."
"The new Silk Road meanwhile offers more than 200 overland services per week in addition to daily services with China by sea. By comparison with other centres in Europe, the total number of containers handled by sea and land in Hamburg makes us the leading hub for China freight by a wide margin,” he added.
Investments to support expansion
The Port said major projects are underway to further boost its cargo handling capacity.
Once the Elbe has been deepened, for example, the Port said large containerships or bulk carriers will be able to bring or take away around 18,000 tons more cargo to/from Hamburg.
In 2019 the Port of Hamburg recorded a total of 684 calls by ULCs – ultra-large containerships – with slot capacities of more than 10,000 TEU.
Last year, 165 of these were in the 18,000-plus TEU category representing a growth of 10%, underlining the necessity of adjusting the fairway.
The port and its handling terminals are already handling mega-carriers with slots capacities in excess of 21,000 TEU. Looking to the future, they are also preparing to safely handle arrivals and departures by even larger vessels.
Port of Hamburg said it is expecting the first call by a mega-carrier with a slot capacity of 24,000 TEU by May.
Meanwhile, for 2020 the Port of Hamburg’s marketing organization anticipates a stable result on container traffic and a slight increase in bulk cargo handling.
