THE port of Hamburg has seen strong growth in container volumes during the first half of the year despite subdued economic conditions and ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Container throughput increased by 9.3% to 4.2m teu, driven largely by an increase in liner services calling at Hamburg. Container import volumes increased by 11.6%.

“We are delighted that the Port of Hamburg is able to benefit to this extent from new liner services and the restructuring of the shipping companies,” said Port of Hamburg marketing chief executive Axel Mattern. “In comparison with competing ports, Hamburg is thus able to set an extremely positive example and gain market share.”

The growth in container throughput was primarily generated by volumes from Asia, which were up 10.7% year on year to 1.8m teu, and the Baltic Sea, up 20.8% to 734,000 teu.

New liner services linking Hamburg with the Mediterranean, Middle East, Asia and India trade lanes also had a positive impact. “The container carriers have adapted better to rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope, such that the number of ship calls has stabilised,” the port said.

The growth in throughput also had a positive impact on the port’s container hinterland transport, which increased by 2.2% year on year to 2.6m teu. Transhipment throughput grew even more strongly, up 23.8% to 1.6m teu in the first half of 2025.

“With renewed growth in container hinterland transport, the Port of Hamburg is maintaining a long-term trend,” said Hamburg Port Authority chief commercial officer Friedrich Stuhrmann. “It will once again live up to its role as a hub between the markets in the Far East and Northern Europe, particularly the Baltic Sea region.”