International Cooperation of Ports in Sustainability

Many visitors to the joint stand of Port of Hamburg and Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) are interested in the green transformation of supply chains at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. Only on an international level can the shift towards more sustainable logistics succeed.

(Hamburg/Shanghai) Accordingly, the Port of Hamburg presents itself at this year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai under the motto “Sustainable Development in the Context of the Energy Transition.” “The Chinese market has been the largest for the Port of Hamburg for years. With a container throughput of over two million TEU, China is at the forefront in Hamburg. To further strengthen our good relationships and gain new ones, it is important for us to be present on-site,” says Volker Werner, Director of Sales at HHLA.

As the largest German universal port, the Port of Hamburg is distinguished not only by its sustainable rail connections to Central and Southeastern European markets. In the course of sustainable transformations, the port is increasingly becoming an international energy hub. This was also one of the central themes at the 5th German Logistics Roundtable, which the Hamburg Liaison Office (HLO) organized on behalf of Hafen Hamburg Marketing, HHLA, TSIT, and DB Cargo Eurasia during the fair. With over 60 guests, this roundtable was also well attended. “The many interested guests at the trade fair stand and at the roundtable show that we are on the right track with our sustainable topics at the CIIE. In this context, sustainable supply chains can be defined and prepared with our partners,” says Axel Mattern, CEO of Hafen Hamburg Marketing (HHM).

Close Cooperation with Chinese Ports

The close relationships with Chinese ports such as Shanghai are demonstrated by the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), COSCO Shipping Lines Co., Ltd., and Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd. to establish a green shipping corridor. The MoU was signed during the North Bund Forum 2024 for international shipping and aviation in October and aims to make the shipping industry more environmentally friendly and carbon-efficient, as well as to promote the sustainable development of global maritime transport. However, the connection between the Port of Hamburg and the Port of Shanghai goes far beyond that. Both ports established a Sister Port Agreement as early as 2004.

Photo: © HLO