CONTAINER volume at the Port of Hamburg port totalled 4.5 million TEU in the first half of the year, representing a 2.1 per cent increase over the same period last year.
Port of Hamburg first half container volume up 2pc to 4.5 million TEU CONTAINER volume at the Port of Hamburg port totalled 4.5 million TEU in the first half of the year, representing a 2.1 per cent increase over the same period last year while the average for the largest seaports in the North European range reported downturns of 0.4 per cent in total throughput and 1.2 per cent on containers handled.
In the first six months of 2013, Hamburg handled 46.5 million tonnes in container cargo. Total throughput in Hamburg reached 68.1 million tonnes, an increase of 3.5 per cent.
The breakdown on the box figures showed that exports of containers reached 2.2 million TEU, up 2.6 per cent, while imports totalled 2.3 million TEU. an increase of 1.7 per cent.
At 3.9 million TEU, throughput of loaded containers was 2.4 per cent higher while the handling of empty containers stabilised at 600,000 TEU, a rise of 0.2 per cent.
"Hamburg is further extending its position as Germany's largest universal port and we are delighted that both general and bulk cargo handling contributed to the excellent throughput results," said port executive board member Axel Mattern.
"Taking into account exports from the market regions in neighbouring countries, however, growth rates of between four and five per cent in the Port of Hamburg's seaborne cargo throughput are possible," said Mr Mattern.
For the year 2013, he expects a four per cent rise in total throughput figure of around 136 million tonnes and three per cent increase in container handling of about 9.1 million TEU.
