German exports, Asian imports, Baltic feeder services grew throughout year

Feb 10--The port of Hamburg increased container traffic almost 13 percent in 2010 from the previous year, driven by booming German exports, rising imports from Asia and strong growth on feeder services to the Baltic region.



Germany's biggest port handled 7.9 million 20-foot equivalent units last year, a 12.7 percent year-on-year increase that outpaced a near 10 percent growth in total traffic to 212 million tons from 210.4 million tons in 2009.



Traffic likely will increase "very nearly" 10 percent this year on continued growth in German exports and the revival of foreign trade in Eastern Europe and Russia, said Claudia Roller, CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing.

The port is set to return in the first half of 2012 to the record growth rates of 2008, when traffic reached an all time high of 140.4 million tons, Roller said.



Asia retained its top ranking in Hamburg's container traffic in 2010 with two-way shipments surging 14.1 percent, or 585,000 TEUs to 4.7 million TEUs.



"Numerous liner services suspended or reduced during the (global economic) crisis resumed operations in 2010 or had their capacities topped up once more," the port authority said.



The port's strong position in the Asian container trade boosted feeder traffic to the Baltic region 9.8 percent to 1.6 million TEUs.



Hamburg also regained feeder services that were diverted to more westerly European ports during the global downturn.



Conventional general cargo traffic increased 5.4 percent to 2.6 million, driven by a 19.5 percent jump in exports of project cargo and cars.



"In successful co-operation with German inland ports along the Elbe and its lateral canals, more project cargoes are being transported by barge to the port of Hamburg, packed and then loaded onto the ocean-going ship," Roller said.

(Source:JoC)