Ports : Port of Hamburg container handling up 5.5 per cent to 4.3 million TEU

The overall trend in seaborne cargo throughput in the Port of Hamburg in the first half of 2021 was positive, according to the company’s release.

General and bulk cargo throughput picked up markedly in the second quarter. At 63.5 million tons, the total seaborne cargo throughput was up by 3.8 per cent. Container handling at 4.3 million TEU – 20-ft standard containers – was 5.5 per cent up.

After a modest start in the first two months, March and the second quarter brought a distinct surge in container handling. Totalling 19.3 million tons, the throughput of bulk goods remained on an upward curve, being ahead by 3.3 per cent.

Especially in the first few months of the first half of 2021, the persisting worldwide repercussions of the Corona pandemic were still determining the throughput trend in the Port of Hamburg. “We find that throughput in the Port of Hamburg has developed positively, embarking on a recovery process.

Yet it was not yet possible to fully recover the throughput downturn caused by the repercussions of the pandemic in Hamburg, among other ports. Growing import and exports, heavy consumer demand, and the Port of Hamburg’s immense range of liner services are bringing us on to a stable growth curve,” explained Axel Mattern, Joint CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing – HHM.

At the Port of Hamburg online press conference organized by HHM, Axel Mattern was especially gratified by the record figure for rail borne container transport. At 1.4 million TEU, during the first six months of the year, the Port of Hamburg Railway network achieved a fresh record. “That’s an 11.3 per cent advance, underlining Hamburg’s position as Europe’s top rail port,” added Mattern.

The first stage of the fairway adjustment in the Elbe also made a positive impact. Jens Meier, CEO of HPA – Hamburg Port Authority, pointed out that clearance for this had made movement and passing considerably simpler for large vessels.

“Even for the extremely large containerships of the Megamax class, offering slot capacities of between 18,000 and 24,000 TEU, the Port of Hamburg is now more readily accessible. In the first half of 2021 alone, 107 of these Megamax containerships called Hamburg. That’s a 24.4 per cent increase, making clear that the fairway adjustment is a successful project for the port, shipping, and the economy,” explained Meier.

In the first six months of the year, 63.5 million tons of seaborne cargo were loaded or discharged at terminals in the Universal Port of Hamburg, or 3.8 per cent more than in the previous year. At 44.2 million tons, general cargo throughput was up by 4.0 per cent.

The trend was also distinctly upwards for container handling in Hamburg at 4.3 million TEU – 20-ft standard containers, a 5.5 per cent increase on the previous year. Ahead by 6.1 per cent, export container handling at 2.1 million TEU rose more strongly than for imports, 5.0 per cent up at 2.2 million TEU.

Of special interest for the port’s added value, the total throughput of loaded containers, which rose 6.9 per cent to 3.8 million TEU, was a very strong feature. At 464,000 TEU, the empty box throughput was 4.5 per cent lower than in the same period of the previous year.

Bulk cargo throughput at 19.3 million tons achieved growth of 3.3 per cent. Within this segment, grab cargo throughput was outstanding, gaining 20 per cent to 10.5 million tons. Ahead by 26.3 per cent, ore imports were the main reason for this. Throughput of suction and liquid cargoes at 3.2 and 5.6 million tons, respectively, was lower than in the same period of the previous year, being down by 22.6 and 3.3 per cent.

A quick glance at returns from the container trades also reveals a positive picture. “Leaving aside Australia/Pacific, the other trades with America, Asia and Africa all reveal a favourable throughput trend. Among the European trades, however, the trend was only positive on transhipment throughput with the Scandinavian countries, up by 6.4 per cent. Overall, however, the total for Europe trades was slightly ahead, being half a per cent up,” said Mattern.

Container handling trends for the Port of Hamburg’s Top Ten trading partners varied during the first six months of 2021. At 1.3 million TEU, seaborne container handling with China, Hamburg’s leading trading partner by a wide margin, achieved a 14.2 per cent advance. Despite the at times massive constraints for cargo handling operators in some Chinese ports, nearly all of them reported first-half growth in container handling. In the first six months, 22.9 million TEU were handled there, an advance of 14.9 per cent.

Remaining Hamburg’s No. 2 partner, with 303,000 TEU – up 5.3 per cent – the USA also remained on a growth curve. During the first six months, other Top Ten countries where the container handling trend was positive were: Sweden – up 5.3 per cent, South Korea – up 2.4 per cent, Poland – up 14.4 per cent, Brazil – up 16.1 per cent and Denmark – up 6.4 per cent. During the first half, these satisfactory developments in seaborne container handling sufficed to offset downturns with other countries.

“A distinct upward trend is evident among Hamburg’s Top Ten trading partners for seaborne container transport. Seven of them already report growth. Among the three with downturns, we are seeing stabilization and slight recovery. Overall, for the Universal Port of Hamburg we assume that growth in seaborne cargo throughput will also continue in the second half,” stressed Mattern.

Despite the positive trend in the Port of Hamburg’s throughput totals, the logistics challenges for worldwide transport chains remain immense. The problems arise from lack of transport capacities, uncertainties in connection with the further course of the pandemic, and other occurrences such as the recent grounding of a containership in the Suez Canal.

Repercussions then emerge at land-sea transport interfaces, and consequently at Germany’s largest seaport.

In the first six months, 1.4 million TEUs were transported on the Port of Hamburg Railway network, an increase of 11.3 per cent.

Port of Hamburg Railway daily handles over 200 freight trains, with more than 5,500 railcars moving along its high-performance network of about 300 kilometres. In Meier’s opinion, even during the corona pandemic, the system has proved reliable.

In the Port of Hamburg’s seaport-hinterland traffic, still better use of track and the equipment deployed boosted rail’s share of modal split. With a 50.7 per cent share, in Germany’s largest seaport rail was already the top carrier for landside transport last year.

In addition to the favourable trend on rail borne seaport-hinterland services, the first half of 2021 also brought new container block train services between Hamburg and China along the New Silk Road. Among the sources of additional continental container transport were the new block train services between Hamburg and the Chinese cities of Shijiazhuang in Hebei, and Wuhei in the province of Gansu.

Already existing links with Suzhou and Xi’an were expanded by additional providers. Even the old Silk Road commenced in the ancient Chinese imperial city of Xi’an. Hamburg has the most rail services with Xi’an and freight from there reached terminals in the port on virtually every weekday.

Next for a number of services is Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province. Since the beginning of the year merchandise from Hanoi in Vietnam has regularly reached Hamburg via this route.

By 2021, the Port of Hamburg’s marketing organization anticipates an upward trend in seaborne cargo throughput. With the stabilization of liner service sailings plus new services, and the situation also improving worldwide, throughput figures of around 130 million tons and 8.7 million TEU should be attainable.