Port of Hamburg strengthens partnership with China

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and SPG Qingdao Port Group signed a Port Partnership Agreement in Qingdao on 23 June. The agreement is designed to strengthen the relationship between the two ports and further intensify the exchange of expertise and best practices. Both parties aim to deepen their cooperation, particularly in the areas of port planning, sustainability and intermodal transport. The HPA and SPG first signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strategic cooperation in 2016. This was followed in 2025 by a joint declaration establishing a Green Shipping Corridor between the two ports. The newly formalized Port Partnership Agreement represents the logical continuation and expansion of this long-standing cooperation.

The signing took place during a roadshow conducted by a Hamburg delegation from 23 to 26 June. Participants included representatives from the HPA, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), EUROGATE, TSIT and Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM). The roadshow aimed to further strengthen trade relations between China and the Port of Hamburg. At the “German Logistics Roundtable” in Qingdao and the “Sino-German Logistics Roundtable” in Shanghai, participants were presented with the performance, expertise and innovative capabilities of Hamburg’s port and logistics sector. The program was complemented by a joint exhibition presence under the “German Ports” umbrella at transport logistic Shanghai, providing numerous opportunities for direct exchange between port representatives, logistics companies and industrial partners from China and Germany. Fellow exhibitors Greiwing and Metrans also joined the shared stand.

“The close cooperation with our Chinese partners is of great strategic importance to the Port of Hamburg. Through our roadshow, we create a platform for open dialogue on sustainable logistics, resilient supply chains and joint future projects. The Port Partnership Agreement with Qingdao Port Group in particular demonstrates how collaborative solutions can be developed to support the transformation of the maritime industry and how partners across continents can benefit from one another,” said Friedrich Stuhrmann, Chief Commercial Officer of the Hamburg Port Authority.

The importance of the Port of Hamburg and its sustainability initiatives was further highlighted at the Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain (AFLAS) Awards. On Thursday, Hamburg received the award for “Best Sustainable Port”. The awards are organized annually by Asia Cargo News, with approximately 15,000 readers of the publication invited to vote for the winners.

With 2.3 million TEU handled in 2025, China remained the Port of Hamburg’s largest trading partner. In total, around 19.9 million tons of cargo were handled in maritime trade between Hamburg and China during the year. Hamburg is directly connected to the People’s Republic of China through 17 regularly operated liner services. These include twelve container services, four general cargo services that also carry heavy-lift cargo, and one RoRo service, which likewise transports general cargo.