Port of Kiel Achieves Positive Annual Balance Despite Volume Decline

Port of Kiel achieves a positive balance for 2022 with 7.7 million tons of cargo volume and 2.2 million passengers. Due to updated tare weights, the handling result is slightly behind the record result of 2021. A strong cruise season and good developments in Scandinavian traffic offset double-digit volume declines towards the Baltic Sea. The Port of Kiel counted over 2.2 million passengers (1.4 million ferry traffic / 836,000 cruise) last year, finishing just slightly behind the record numbers from 2019 (2.3 million). SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co. KG reports an overall positive business development for 2022.

(Kiel) The Gothenburg connection remains at a consistently high cargo level – similar to the previous year (total cargo result 2.3 million tons / according to old tare weight calculation: 2.1 million tons). The Oslo connection saw double-digit volume increases this year (total cargo result 817,000 tons / +27.24%). As a result of the EU sanctions against Russia, the import of Siberian larch at the East Port was halted on July 10, 2022, which played a minor role with a share of less than one percent of the total handling of the Port of Kiel (2021). On the routes towards the Baltic Sea (total cargo result 2.6 million tons / according to old tare weight calculation: 2.3 million tons), low double-digit volume declines were recorded, which are also responsible for the adjusted volume decline of 5.6% in total handling across the port. With 3.4 million tons / according to old tare weight calculation: 3.1 million tons), the East Port continues to be the strongest area in Kiel’s handling business. Positive developments are also evident in the passenger sector: Sea tourism has more than doubled with 2,241,919 ferry and cruise passengers compared to the previous year (921,796). Dr. Dirk Claus, Managing Director of SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co. KG, emphasizes: “The broad positioning of the company has guided us well through challenging times in recent years and offsets declines in certain areas this year. My thanks also go to our 360 employees who did a great job in 2022. Although the coming year will certainly be challenging again, we look to the future with optimism.”

Combined Cargo Traffic

The development in combined cargo traffic in 2022 was also characterized by declines at the East Port. Despite stable volume development at the Sweden and Norway quays, the overall balance in the intermodal sector fell short of expectations. With 28,900 loading units (2022), the result does not meet the company’s actual long-term planning – 35,000 loading units were targeted for 2023. Many trains also had to be suspended last year or experienced significant delays, among other reasons due to network problems. Nevertheless, Claus stated that they look cautiously optimistic at the KV development in the coming years, as the demand from customers for environmentally friendly logistics products is fundamentally increasing.

Development in Sea Tourism Remains Strong in 2023

The past season 2022 was the strongest cruise season for the port to date with 244 calls, an increase of 37 percent compared to the last pre-Corona season in 2019 (178 calls). The positive development in the cruise sector had already been evident over several years, during which the northern German port was in intensive planning with international shipping companies. The loss of St. Petersburg as a cruise destination did not play a role in the increases in Kiel’s cruise business (+9 calls due to rerouting / -11 calls due to cancellations). For the current season 2023, 218 calls have been reported so far. Dirk Claus: “We are settling into a good level in the cruise sector between 200 and 250 calls. Our focus this season will also be primarily on integrating the cruise ships with our shore power facility. We expect to supply 60 to 100 calls.”

Ambitious Environmental Strategy

PORT OF KIEL is one of the leading European ports in providing shore power to passenger ships. Throughout 2022, the ferries from Color Line and Stena Line received shore power in Kiel despite volatile energy prices. In addition to the two existing facilities, another facility for supplying cruise and ferry ships is currently being built at the East Port by Siemens AG. The completion of the 17 million euro project is scheduled for the end of the 2023 season. This would give PORT OF KIEL one of the most extensive infrastructures for shore power in Europe and allow it to offer green electricity at all cruise and ferry terminals starting in 2024. In line with the port’s environmental strategy, which aims for climate neutrality by 2030, PORT OF KIEL is additionally investing 2 million euros in the construction of photovoltaic systems in 2023. The systems, which are intended for the company’s building roofs, are expected to cover up to 30 percent of the group’s electricity needs in the long term. “We see this not only as a response to current energy issues but as an important step towards the continuous reduction of CO2 emissions by 2030,” Claus said.

Photo: © Port of Kiel