The Port of Hamburg handled 8.9 million TEUs in 2016, a 1.0% year-on-year increase, according to results released by the port.

The port recorded a 9.3% drop in its annual throughput in 2015.

Asian traffic rose 1.3% year-on-year to 4.7 million TEUs. More specifically, trade with Chinese ports grew by 1.6% to 2.6 million TEUs.

According to the port, exports were up 0.7% while imports grew by 1.2% compared to 2015.

‘Despite lower transhipment-container services by feeder ships to/from Sweden and Poland, on total throughput the port can report an upward trend for both imports and exports,” said Axel Mattern, joint CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing. “Growth was primarily generated by container services with Asia and the Americas.”

The port also achieved a new record for hinterland rail transport, having transported 2.4 million TEUs into and out of the port, 2.4% more than in 2015. The share of containers transported by rail at the port increased from 41.6% to 42.3%.

“In a comparison with ports in Europe, the highest number of connections and the great frequency of train departures to/from Hamburg are very advantageous in offering shippers in industry and commerce rapid handling of their export and import cargoes,” said Ingo Egloff, joint CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing.

The port said that it is anticipating a positive trend for 2017.