Hamburg hopeful

The trend in bulk cargo handling, especially, fuelled the increase, with10.1m tons handled for an increase of 6.3 percent. At 2.2m TEU, the container handling that traditionally dominates in Hamburg reached almost the same level as in the first quarter of 2012.

Large quantities of cargo in foreign trade were handled by feeders on transhipment services via Hamburg. In this segment, Hamburg constitutes a significant world trade hub for the European market. The Baltic region, especially, is served by transhipment services via the Port of Hamburg. The port’s main trading partner in the Baltic region is Russia, accounting for 161,000 TEU in the first quarter of 2013.

An increase in orders received by the German manufacturing industry suggests an upturn that should have a positive effect on cargo volume via the Port.