Ukraine war and sanctions on Russia hit Hamburg’s throughput in 2022

The port’s total throughput declined by nearly 7% on the year to 119.9 million mt in in 2022.

PHOTO: Gantry cranes in the Port of Hamburg. Hamburg Port Authority

“The war in Ukraine plus the related sanctions against Russia, along with worldwide supply chain problems caused by the corona pandemic, impacted Port of Hamburg throughput during the year (2022),” Port of Hamburg's marketing chief executive Axel Mattern says.

Labour disputes and “very high inflation in the course of the autumn” last year also contributed to pull down the port’s total throughput, he adds.

The port’s throughput of bulk cargoes dropped 9% on the year to 36.2 million mt in 2022, and liquid cargo throughput dropped 15% to 10 million mt, the port authority says.

According to Mattern, uncertainties across world markets could cast a shadow on the port’s throughput this year.

“We hope the global economy will again recover. That will aid and boost throughput for the Port of Hamburg,” he says.

The port expects to see fresh volumes of new energy products in the coming years as it is transforming to become a green energy hub.

Last year, the port authority announced it will work with the US-based hydrogen producer Air Products to develop a hydrogen value chain. The plan envisages setting up an import terminal for green hydrogen in Hamburg.

By Shilpa Sharma

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