The Port of Hamburg handled a total of 8.8 million TEUs in 2017, a year-on-year decrease of 1%, according to statistics released by the port.

Total seaborne cargo throughput at the port for the year amounted to 136.5 million tonnes, remaining unchanged compared to 2016.

“On container throughput, developments in 2017 varied,” said Axel Mattern, joint CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing. “Throughput of loaded boxes was unchanged at 7.6 million TEUs, whereas for empty boxes we have to report a downturn of 88,000 TEUs to 1.2 million TEUs. Against the background of the still outstanding fairway adjustment on the Elbe, and the economic sanctions still in force on trade with Russia that is of such significance for the Port of Hamburg, the result in the container segment is in line with our expectations.”

Imports were down 1%, at 33.1 million tonnes, while exports grew by 1.1% to 11.6 million tonnes.

The port said that the restrictions in force on the Elbe and the narrow tidal window have been causing shipowners to use available space on mega container ships primarily to shift loaded boxes, routing empties via other northern European ports. Empty containers accounted for just 13% of the total at Hamburg.

“Once the fairway adjustment has been completed, we shall be able to handle substantially more containers and bulk cargo in Hamburg,” said Ingo Egloff, member of the executive board at Port of Hamburg Marketing. “Terminals and other port facilities are well prepared for growth. Increased draft on the Elbe and simplification of manoeuvring by the construction of a passing zone on the Elbe downstream from Hamburg will facilitate more efficient use of hold capacities and crucially simplify passing for ultra-large vessels.”

The port’s marketing division also noted that in 2017 Hamburg received 102 calls by ultra-large container vessels with a size of 18,000-20,000+ TEUs, a year-on-year increase of 52.2%. The 20,776 TEU CMA CGM Antoine de Saint Exupery, currently the world’s largest container ship, is expected to call at Hamburg for the first time in March 2018.

Frank Horch, Hamburg’s senator for economics, transport and innovation said that there are many questions to address concerning the future of the port.

“We must get to grips with Industry 4.0, with digitalization and how this will change supply chains,” said Horch. “We must develop the port to enable it to play a prominent role. The Port of Hamburg must become a Port 4.0. We will improve the infrastructure, implement the fairway adjustments and secure good general conditions. When extending the port it will be important to identify how Hamburg as a broad-based universal port can be economically sustainable, strong and generate new impulses. We are ready to take new paths – in usage, the type of development and in the partners we will achieve this with.”

Port of Hamburg Marketing expects the pending fairway adjustments to the lower and outer Elbe to begin in 2018, paving the way for growth at the port.

The port also anticipates positive effects on imports from the revamping of the import VAT agreed on in the current coalition deal in Berlin, allowing importers to deduct import tax immediately.

“Along with seaport trade associations and chambers of commerce, we have for long campaigned for an alignment in calculation of import turnover tax and an end to our disadvantages compared to ports in the Netherlands and expect rapid implementation from a new government,” Egloff said.

A stable trend in seaborne cargo handling is predicted for 2018, according to Port of Hamburg Marketing.