In the first half of 2025, the Port of Hamburg experienced steady growth despite sluggish global trade and geopolitical tensions. From January to June, sea-borne freight volume increased by 3.6% year-on-year, reaching 57.8 million tons, primarily driven by a 9.3% rise in container traffic, totaling 4.2 million TEU. Notably, container imports surged by 11.6%, while exports grew by 6.9%. CEO Axel Matter attributed this success to new liner services and the restructuring of shipping lines.
Conversely, bulk freight declined by 3.7% to 0.6 million tons, and conventional cargo fell by 3.8% to 16 million tons. Liquid goods rose by 10.3% to 4.7 million tons, while tangible freight increased by 6.6% to 8.5 million tons; however, demand for coal and ore weakened. Agricultural goods saw a significant drop of 13.9%, with grain exports plummeting by 80.8%.
The Far East and Baltic Sea recorded notable container growth, with increases of 10.7% and 20.8%, respectively. The United States, however, saw a decline of 19.3% in trade due to policy disruptions. To bolster its competitive edge, the port is investing €1.1 billion to enhance infrastructure and capacity.
