Hamburg box volume slips 0.1pc, but China trade up 0.6pc in first 9 months
GERMANY's Port of Hamburg container throughput fell 0.1 per cent year on year in the first nine months of 2016 to 6.7 million TEU, but the China box trade was up 0.6 per cent and increased one per cent with Asia as a whole.
The overall downturn was blamed on fewer transshipments from Polish and Swedish ports, partly reflecting the success those ports were having in attracting direct calls to replace feeder services to Hamburg.
Port of Hamburg Marketing statistics also revealed mixed results for European volumes that fell 1.7 per cent year on year in the first three quarters.
While Russian volumes increased 4.4 per cent to 337,000 TEU from already depressed base numbers, direct calls by liner services in Gothenburg fell 15.4 per cent and by 14.1 per cent to Gdansk in the same period.
"A continuing rise in the significance of India was more gratifying," said the Port of Hamburg Marketing release.
"With throughout 6.8 per cent ahead at 188,000 TEU, the country now ranks eighth among Hamburg's top trading partners in container traffic," said the port authority.
More positive container news came from Mexico, up 18 per cent; the US, up 7.7 per cent; the United Arab Emirates, up 12.1 per cent and the UK, up 13.3 per cent.
Import box volume increased 0.5 per cent to 3.5 million TEU while exports hit 3.2 million TEU, falling 0.6 per cent below the previous year's figure.
Bulk cargo in the first nine months was up 0.3 per cent up at 34.5 million tonnes. Non-containerised general cargo of outsize plant elements and wheeled cargo was 9.5 per cent down at 1.2 million tons.
At 104.9 million tonnes, total seaborne cargo throughput for the first three quarters of 2016, covering general and bulk cargo segments, was 0.3 per cent up on the previous year.
"Seaborne cargo throughput in the Port of Hamburg has stabilised and for the first three quarters of 2016 again increased," said Axel Mattern, joint CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing.
By comparison with other leading European ports, in the first three quarters of 2016 Hamburg further expanded freight volumes transported by rail, he said.
Said joint CEO Ingo Egloff: "Transporting 35.5 million tonnes of freight and 1.8 million TEU, representing gains of 3.1 per cent and 1.9 per cent, rail once again achieved a substantial advance.
"If the port is to continue to expand and remain competitive, dredging on the Lower and Outer Elbe remains essential," he said.
GERMANY's Port of Hamburg container throughput fell 0.1 per cent year on year in the first nine months of 2016 to 6.7 million TEU, but the China box trade was up 0.6 per cent and increased one per cent with Asia as a whole.
The overall downturn was blamed on fewer transshipments from Polish and Swedish ports, partly reflecting the success those ports were having in attracting direct calls to replace feeder services to Hamburg.
Port of Hamburg Marketing statistics also revealed mixed results for European volumes that fell 1.7 per cent year on year in the first three quarters.
While Russian volumes increased 4.4 per cent to 337,000 TEU from already depressed base numbers, direct calls by liner services in Gothenburg fell 15.4 per cent and by 14.1 per cent to Gdansk in the same period.
"A continuing rise in the significance of India was more gratifying," said the Port of Hamburg Marketing release.
"With throughout 6.8 per cent ahead at 188,000 TEU, the country now ranks eighth among Hamburg's top trading partners in container traffic," said the port authority.
More positive container news came from Mexico, up 18 per cent; the US, up 7.7 per cent; the United Arab Emirates, up 12.1 per cent and the UK, up 13.3 per cent.
Import box volume increased 0.5 per cent to 3.5 million TEU while exports hit 3.2 million TEU, falling 0.6 per cent below the previous year's figure.
Bulk cargo in the first nine months was up 0.3 per cent up at 34.5 million tonnes. Non-containerised general cargo of outsize plant elements and wheeled cargo was 9.5 per cent down at 1.2 million tons.
At 104.9 million tonnes, total seaborne cargo throughput for the first three quarters of 2016, covering general and bulk cargo segments, was 0.3 per cent up on the previous year.
"Seaborne cargo throughput in the Port of Hamburg has stabilised and for the first three quarters of 2016 again increased," said Axel Mattern, joint CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing.
By comparison with other leading European ports, in the first three quarters of 2016 Hamburg further expanded freight volumes transported by rail, he said.
Said joint CEO Ingo Egloff: "Transporting 35.5 million tonnes of freight and 1.8 million TEU, representing gains of 3.1 per cent and 1.9 per cent, rail once again achieved a substantial advance.
"If the port is to continue to expand and remain competitive, dredging on the Lower and Outer Elbe remains essential," he said.