The Port of Hamburg has reported an improvement in container throughput, reaching 1.9 million TEU in the first quarter of 2024.
According to the port, US traffic continues to grow strongly, establishing a new record. Hinterland and transhipment traffic benefited from increased container throughput and exhibited an increasing trend.
Overall, overall seaborne freight throughput remains at 27.4 million tonnes, which is impacted by decreased bulk cargo transportation.
Container traffic in the Port of Hamburg increased by 1.1 per cent to 1.9 million TEU in the first quarter, compared to the same period last year. Container throughput by tonnage grew by 0.7 per cent to 19.0 million tonnes.
In the first three months, 179,000 TEU were processed, representing a 17.7 per cent gain. Container trade with China remained the highest, with 536,000 TEU and a 2.9 per cent rise.
Container traffic with Mexico has also grown extremely positively. The Port of Hamburg handled 27,000 TEU on this route, representing a 32.2 per cent increase over the same time previous year.
The port noted that Moroccan container throughput did well. At 34,000 TEU, container traffic climbed by 44.9 per cent, marking a new trade record with Morocco.
This result implies that transhipment traffic to the Mediterranean has grown as a result of the Red Sea crisis.
In total, the Port of Hamburg handled 625,400 TEU of transhipment trade, marking a 3 per cent increase over the same time the previous year.
Axel Mattern, CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing, said: “The development of container throughput suggests that, despite the current events in the Red Sea, trade is stabilising and the recovery process is continuing.”
“The quarterly results cover a short period of time and are not indicative of throughput trends for the remainder of the year.”
Recently, the port became the first in Europe to offer shore power for both containerships and cruise vessels.
