[ Containers on steady growth course ]

The constant upward trend in container turnover is and remains a
remarkable factor. Its share of general cargo turnover rose to
83.6%, a figure that reflects the increasing containerization of
general cargo shipping, which naturally boosts container turnover,
and above-average increases in quantity terms. By the end of this
year, Hamburg will have broken through the 3-million TEU barrier for
the first time with overall growth at between 5~6% - despite a
subdued start to the year.
Conventional general cargo turnover fell in 1996. The recovery that
was also apparent in this sector in the course of the year will be
insufficient to get anywhere near last year’s figures. With a
probable total cargo-handling volume of around 6 million ton the
decline in this sector will be around 8-9%, a development mainly due
to a drop in outgoing cargo which was around 11% lower than last
year.
After a very good year in 1995, mainly as a result of once-off
factors affecting exports of grain, the 1996 results will be more
modest with a total turnover of around 34 million ton. Despite a
fall of some 2 million ton, the 1996 total is still more than 2%
higher than the 1994 figure- a more realistic year for comparisons
given a similiar lack of any specially favourable effects. Seen from
this perspective, the volume of bulk cargo handled this year may
described as satisfactory to good.
With suction cargoes(grain, oilseeds and fodder) exports fell to 2.7
million ton-down by over a fifth from last year’s unusally high
figure(boosted as it was by poor harvests abroad). With grabber
cargoes the fall of nearly a quarter in imports of ores will result
in an overall turnover of 14.1million ton, considerably less than
last year when 16.5 million ton were handled. The reason for this
year’s decline is the slump in the iron and steel industries.
However, the volume of liquid cargoes handled rose this year.
Imports seem likely to show continued growth and be 1 million ton up
on last year’s figure by the end of 1996. The total volume of
liquid cargo handled will be nearly 8% higher than 1995 at 14 milion
ton.