Cargo Breaking News
In the first nine months of the year, at 95.8 million tonnes the Port of Hamburg achieved a 2.9 per cent increase in seaborne cargo throughput. Bulk cargo throughput advanced especially strongly, being 6.1 per cent ahead at 29.7 million tonnes. Totalling 66.1 million tonnes, in the first three-quarters general cargo throughput was a modest 1.6 per cent ahead. The upward trend was also maintained on container handling. A total of 6.5 million TEU – 20-ft standard containers – were hoisted across the quay walls of Hamburg’s container terminals, a 2.4 per cent gain.
Despite this positive throughput trend, the Port of Hamburg was not yet able to fully overhaul last year’s downturn caused by Corona. Axel Mattern and Ingo Egloff, HHM – Port of Hamburg Marketing’s Joint CEOs, are, therefore, pleased that pre- and post-voyage rail-borne container transport set a new record at 2.1 million TEU. “That represents an 8.3 per cent advance,” stresses Egloff. “At 709,000 TEU, the Port of Hamburg posted the highest quarterly total in its history for containers transported,” added Mattern. The Port of Hamburg has further strengthened its position as Europe’s one of the largest rail ports.
Seaborne cargo throughput in the first nine months of 2021
Throughput of containerised general cargo in the first three quarters of 2021 totalled 65.2 million tonnes, representing a gain of 1.5 per cent. At 908,000 tonnes, the conventional general cargo was up by an emphatic 5.2 per cent. In the container throughput sector, exports, 2.9 per cent up at 3.2 million TEU, outperformed imports, just 1.9 per cent higher at 3.3 million TEU. At 5.8 million TEU, the throughput of loaded containers, contributing more to the port’s added value than empty boxes, was ahead by an above-average 3.2 per cent. Compared to the previous year, on empty containers, there was another downturn, of 3.2 per cent to 731,000 TEU.
Mattern points out that among the Port of Hamburg’s main trade lanes, with the exception of Australia/Pacific (–0.1 per cent), the other container trade lanes of the Americas (+6.7 per cent), Asia (+1.4 per cent), Africa (+4.5 per cent) and Europe (+1.6 per cent) all recorded positive throughput growth.
The first stage of implementing fairway adjustment produced higher draft and improved opportunities for ships to pass on the Elbe for liner services calling at Hamburg. The containerships calling Hamburg in large numbers were the chief beneficiaries. There was an increase in the number of those in the Megamax category calling Hamburg. A total of 163 of these extra-large containerships with a capacity of over 18,000 TEU were cleared in Hamburg, a gain of 19.9 per cent. “With the implementation of the Elbe fairway adjustment, we now offer larger vessels improved conditions on the Elbe for sailing and arrival. Final clearance in the course of the next six months will put us in a much-improved position compared to our competing ports,” said Egloff.
Growth in bulk cargo throughput is primarily attributable to the strong trend in the grab cargo segment. Ore and coal imports led to growth there of 17.8 per cent to 16.3 million tonnes. Up 0.9 per cent at 8.7 million tonnes, liquid cargo throughput was stable. In the suction cargo segment, at 4.7 million tonnes, or -15.1 per cent lower, the throughput of grain and oleaginous fruits was below the previous year’s strong total.
Trends for top 10 seaborne container handling partners in the first nine months of 2021
Trends varied among the Port of Hamburg’s leading seaborne container handling partners. A gain of 6.4 per cent to 1.9 million TEU was achieved on seaborne container handling with China, Hamburg’s leading partner country there by a wide margin. Up 4.5 per cent at 459,000, container throughput with the USA, still the Port of Hamburg’s No. 2, is even set for a new annual record. Other top 10 countries with increases in container throughput for the first nine months were Sweden + 9.9 per cent, Poland + 18.8 per cent, Brazil + 6.7 per cent, and Denmark + 4.5 per cent. “The upward trend in seaborne container throughput evident during the first half was maintained in the third quarter,” says Mattern, also pointing out that the next countries in the ranking reported substantial growth in the first nine months: India with 21.3 per cent, Canada with 17.8 per cent, and Turkey with 7.8 per cent.
Outlook for 2021
Worldwide transport chains will remain volatile for the rest of the year. “Delayed ship’s arrivals plus the related delivery postponements also hit the ports. The problems of supply chains meanwhile out of synch will continue to be apparent at the land/sea transport interface. Despite providing 24×7 service, for the terminals a fraught situation will persist on vessel clearance,” says Mattern. “Partly since the beginning of the year, large sections of industry have suffered bottlenecks on deliveries. Despite full order books, this can hamper production,” adds Egloff.
The ifo Institut puts the German industry’s forfeited added value on account of delivery bottlenecks at almost 40 million Euros. Having previously put fourth-quarter growth at 1.3 per cent, the institute now reckons with just 0.5 per cent. Despite the current situation, the Port of Hamburg’s marketing organization reckons on the continuation of the slight upward trend in seaborne cargo throughput during the fourth quarter. For the Port of Hamburg, the total throughput of around 130 million tonnes and 8.7 million TEU for 2021 remains attainable.
