WTO take-off

This positive trend follows Russia’s decision to join the World Trade Orgnisation (WTO), resulting in associated simplifications in commercial law as well as the dismantling of trade barriers.

With a total volume of some 675,000 standard containers (TEU) handled between Hamburg and the Russian ports, the volume of container traffic was up by a further 13.3% in 2012, consolidating the lead in foreign trade with Europe and overseas via Hamburg.

Just under 95% of the total direct traffic between Russia and Hamburg is handled via the seaport of St Petersburg, which itself handled roughly 2.53m TEU in 2012, equivalent to an increase by 6.7% year on year.