Port of Hamburg: International cooperation between ports on green issues

Many visitors to the joint stand of the Port of Hamburg and Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) during the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai are interested in the green transformation of supply chains.

The change towards more sustainable logistics can only succeed at the international level. Accordingly, the Port of Hamburg is presenting itself at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai this year under the motto ‘Sustainable Development in the Context of the Energy Transition’. ‘For years, the Chinese market has been the largest for the Port of Hamburg. China is Hamburg's top customer with a container throughput of over two million TEU per year. To further strengthen our valued relationships and establish new ones, it is essential for us to maintain a local presence’, says Volker Werner, Director of Sales at HHLA.

As Germany's largest all-purpose port, the Port of Hamburg is characterized not only by its sustainable rail connections to Central and Southeastern European markets. As part of its sustainable transformations, the port is increasingly becoming an international energy hub. This was also one of the key topics at the 5th German Logistics Roundtable, which the Hamburg Liaison Office (HLO) organized on behalf of Port of Hamburg Marketing, HHLA, TSIT and DB Cargo Eurasia during the trade fair. With over 60 guests, this roundtable was also well attended. ‘The strong interest from guests at our exhibition stand and the roundtable demonstrates that we are on the right track with our focus on sustainability at CIIE. In this context, we can work with our partners to define and develop sustainable supply chains’, says Axel Mattern, CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM).

The recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), COSCO Shipping Lines Co., Ltd. and Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd. to establish a green shipping corridor shows how close relations with Chinese ports like Shanghai already are. The MoU was signed during the North Bund Forum 2024 for International Shipping and Aviation in October, with the goal of making the shipping industry more environmentally friendly and reducing its carbon footprint, while also promoting the sustainable development of global maritime transport. However, the Port of Hamburg’s relationship with the Port of Shanghai goes back much further. As early as 2004, the two ports signed a Sister Port Agreement.

The opportunities offered by the Port of Hamburg are also presented by the Hamburg exhibitors at the joint stand. This year’s exhibitors include HHM, HLO, HHLA and the newcomer TSIT, who offer bonded warehouse and transport logistics Services in Europe.