Chamber of Commerce Seeks Vision for the Future of Hamburg Port

At a summit meeting of the Hamburg port economy at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, the future of Hamburg Port was discussed. It was determined that Hamburg is at a disadvantage compared to the ports in Benelux. The Hamburg port economy must speak with one voice, and the Chamber of Commerce aims to act as a mediator.

(Hamburg) “The Hamburg port needs an open dialogue about its future to maintain its outstanding role in our Hanseatic city,” says Chamber of Commerce President Prof. Norbert Aust at the summit meeting of the Hamburg port economy at the Chamber of Commerce. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how crucial functioning trade routes are. “The Hamburg port was and is important; we must now do everything to ensure that it remains the gateway to the global economy.”

Great Challenges

Changed global trade structures on one side and changes in the industrial environment due to global megatrends such as climate protection on the other pose significant challenges for Hamburg. The hinterland of the port in Central and Eastern Europe has also not been consistently developed since the fall of the Iron Curtain. Additionally, there are competitive disadvantages compared to other Northern European ports. “The Hamburg port is undoubtedly the most expensive in the North Range. The process for collecting import VAT continues to drain liquidity from companies and is a significant bureaucratic burden. Furthermore, there is no solution in sight for the silt problem,” says Chamber of Commerce Vice President Willem van der Schalk at the summit. This leads to Hamburg being at a disadvantage compared to ports like Antwerp or Rotterdam. Hamburg must compete with convincing concepts alongside other German ports against competitors in the North Range. “Above all, the Hamburg port economy must speak with one voice, and politics must also increasingly advocate for the development of the port again,” says van der Schalk.

Chamber of Commerce as Mediator

The Chamber of Commerce wants to help develop effective strategies as a mediator. “We must tackle the structural challenges of the port and jointly develop a vision for the future with all stakeholders, which must then be incorporated into a new port development plan,” says Chamber of Commerce Managing Director Dr. Malte Heyne. This will be addressed by the Chamber of Commerce as part of its Hamburg 2040 project. “The port could, for example, be expanded as a nucleus for alternative energies. The establishment of innovative industries would also be an option,” says Heyne. Additionally, infrastructure must be secured and upgraded. Another option is harmonized port call costs in German ports and a joint marketing concept.

Photo: © Hafen Hamburg Marketing / Peter Glaubitt
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