Port of Hamburg reported better than expected volumes in the first half of the year despite ongoing challenges impacting operations at the gateway including the Russia-Ukraine war and general slowdown in demand.
The third largest container port in Europe reported total throughput of 4.4 million TEUs – 20-ft standard containers – in the first six months of the year represented slight growth of 0.9%.
The port noted that compared to the major competing ports of Antwerp-Bruges, Rotterdam and Bremen/Bremerhaven in Northern Europe — all reporting downturns in container handling — Hamburg was the only major port in the range to report an increase.
"The container throughput trend in the Port of Hamburg in the first half of 2022 was more positive than expected," Port of Hamburg said.
"At the four major ports in the European North Range, for the first six months, average container throughput fell by 4.6%. Against this trend Hamburg, gained 1.1 percentage points, being the only top port to achieve growth in container handling," it added.
Axel Mattern, CEO of Port Hamburg Marketing, noted that the first half of 2022 confronted companies in the Port of Hamburg with "very special challenges."
"The war in Ukraine, for instance, led to far-reaching sanctions in foreign trade that affected and will further affect seaborne cargo throughput in the Port of Hamburg," Mattern said. "Together with the almost complete cessation of container transport with Russian ports, another consequence of the Russian attack on Ukraine — apart from downturns in general cargo handling — was also a steep reduction in bulk cargo handling."
Covid-19 repercussions continue to cause bottlenecks
Mattern pointed out that not only war in Ukraine, but also the repercussions of the global corona pandemic, will continue to cause transport and supply bottlenecks for trade and industry.
On many routes, this is leading to longer transit times and steeply increased freight rates.
The Port of Hamburg executive said the main causes of supply chains thrown off schedule, as well as delays and disruption in worldwide transport processes, should not be attributed to ports alone — but also to factors on land such as delays in truck and rail traffic.
Mattern added that the weeklong lockdown in the Port of Shanghai, and ship arrivals are thrown off schedule, also resulted in extraordinary peak loads at the port's handling terminals.
Infrastructure development at Port of Hamburg
To prevent further disruptions in the Port of Hamburg, the Hamburg Port Authority – HPA ensures the maintenance and further development of the infrastructure at the major European gateway.
Friedrich Stuhrmann, chief commercial officer at the HPA said the completion of the adjustment of the navigation channel in January allows it to handle more containers per ship call.
He noted that 117 Ultra Large Container Ship (ULCS) immediately took advantage of the navigational channel adjustment during the first half of 2022. Stuhrmann said 8% more containers were handled per ship call.
"With shore power supply for container ships and cruise ships, we are now tackling our next major project. Construction work started in the first half of 2022 at the three container terminals Burchardkai, Tollerort und Eurogate, along with the Steinwerder cruise terminal," Stuhrmann added.
The trial operation is due to commence in 2023.
Port of Hamburg noted that the EU sanctions imposed on Russia in the first half caused a 50.9% drop in container handling between Hamburg and Russian ports to 79,000 TEU — causing Kremlin to fall in its ranking to 15th place from 4th.
Nonetheless, no change occurred among the Port of Hamburg's three most important trading partners on the basis of throughput volumes: China, including Hong Kong (up 5.8% to 1.3 million TEU), the US (down 3.9% to 291,000 TEU), and Singapore, (up 6.7% with 218,000 TEU).
During the first six months of 2022, Port of Hamburg said 1.4 million TEU were transported on the Port Railway network – a drop of just 0.2% compared to last year.
A total of 23.6 million tons, down 0.3% were transported to and from the Port of Hamburg during the first half of the year.
Mattern explained that with a 52.8% share of the modal split, rail freight transport remains the top carrier for the Port of Hamburg's incoming and departing traffic.
Around 210 freight trains with more than 5,500 railcars use the Port Railway's high-performance 300-kilometre network daily.
Growth in seaborne cargo likely to weaken
"Against the background of a deteriorating overall economic situation, which is likely to be characterised by an expected rise in energy prices and a weakening in consumption, further development of seaborne cargo handling is more likely to weaken by the end of the year," Port of Hamburg said.
"Yet a transfer of bulk cargo shipments caused by the ongoing low water period on the Rhine could ensure growth for a limited period."
A cargo handling total of around 130 million tons and 8.7 million TEU following stabilization of transport chains and the world economic situation may be optimistic, but is not out of the question, the third largest European port added.
