Port of Hamburg leaves economic crisis of 2010 in its wake

In 2010 the Port of Hamburg returned to its growth course with total throughput of 121 million tons. Alongside the gratifying progress of the German economy, the markets in the Baltic region and in Eastern Europe, that are so important for the Port of Hamburg, recovered ground in the course of 2010.

The upshot was distinct growth 176 Feb 21, 2011 compared to the crisis of 2009 in both general and bulk cargo throughput. In 2010, 7.9 million TEU crossed Hamburg’s quay walls, making for a 12.7 boost in container throughput.

Given a continued positive trend for the world economy and the resulting stabilization and growth in world goods transport by oceangoing ships, for 2011 the Port of Hamburg also anticipates distinct growth in seaborne cargo throughput. On the import side the Port of Hamburg’s marketing organization, Port of Hamburg Marketing, announced throughput of 70.4 million tons (+13.2 percent).

Exports via Hamburg at 50.8 million tons (+5.4 percent) also developed positively in comparison to the previous year. Dominating the picture in Hamburg, at 80.9 million tons of general cargo throughput achieved an increase of 9.9 percent. Bulk cargo throughput reached 40.3 million tons and was accordingly up by 9.5 percent.

In 2010, the year under review, the Port of Hamburg’s container throughput totaled 78.4 million tons (+10.1 percent). This represented 7.9 million TEU (+12.7 percent). Asia again retained its top place in 2010 among trade routes for container traffic with the Port of Hamburg. In 2010 altogether 4.7 million TEU to and from Asia were handled, or around 585,000 TEU (+14.1 percent) more than in the previous year.

Numerous liner services suspended or reduced during the crisis resumed operations in 2010 or had their capacities topped up once more.