Sunny side up for Hamburg
The port of Hamburg witnessed an upswing in seaborne cargo throughput in Q1/2021, above its forecast. A steep increase in March, especially, led to higher volumes in total (+0.4% to 32,1 million t) compared to the same period last year. Container handling performed even stronger, with an uptick of 1.8% (to 2,2 million teu), and bulk cargo improved by 2,7% (to 9.8 million t).
Axel Mattern, joint CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing, said in an online press conference that “March brought the crucial turnaround for container handling.” Import and export container volumes were balanced, with a throughput of 1,1 million teu each.
Furthermore, federal and regional maritime authorities have also transmitted a positive signal for the port of Hamburg, with initial partial clearance at the beginning of May for the new navigation channel depths and the Elbe channel passing box.
Hinterland rail connections also grew. In the first three months of the year, 697,000 teu were transported on Hamburg’s port railway network, an increase of 5.1%. (cd)