Market position

With its listed core business Port Logistics, HHLA competes with other companies on the European market for sea freight services. By establishing locations for handling activities both in the Mediterranean and Baltic regions, as well as continuously optimising and expanding its intermodal network, HHLA has been able to leverage the growth potential of its respective markets over recent years. In the 2024 financial year, however, growth in the HHLA Group was affected by the ongoing weakness of the German economy, the military conflict in the Middle East with its impact on shipping routes, and the war in Ukraine. Economic environment

In mid-September 2023, HHLA was informed by its majority shareholder, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (FHH), that it had come to an understanding with the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) as part of an investor agreement about a strategic investment in HHLA AG. According to this agreement, the City of Hamburg and MSC intend to manage and develop the company together in future through Port of Hamburg Beteiligungsgesellschaft SE (PoH). One central component of this partnership remains the neutrality of the HHLA business model.

Over the course of the year, HHLA, HGV Hamburger Gesellschaft für Vermögens- und Beteiligungsmanagement mbH, PoH and MSC subsidiary SAS Shipping Agencies S.à.r.l. (SAS) also agreed on the content of a business combination agreement, which sets out the common understanding of the key points regarding the long-term further development of HHLA and contains important commitments to HHLA. In mid-November 2024, all the closing conditions for the voluntary public takeover bid had been met. In late November, the transaction was concluded and all class A shares held by HGV and SAS were transferred to Port of Hamburg Beteiligungsgesellschaft SE. Significant events

Container segment

Competitive factors

The competitive position of a terminal operator is determined by geographical location and the hinterland links of a port as well as its accessibility from the sea. Local freight volume in the direct catchment area of each port location also plays an important role. Other key competitive factors that influence the market position include the reliability and speed of ship handling as well as the scope and quality of services, Also of increasing importance is the performance of pre- and onward-carriage rail systems between the port and its hinterland (for example, in terms of frequency, punctuality and pricing) and therefore the range of integrated transport solutions.

Competition is extremely fierce in Northern Europe and ports are still being affected by changing shipping company constellations, alliances and participations in terminals. Business partners and customers

With regard to the potential transfer of container traffic, a distinction must be made here between overseas traffic (i.e. ocean transport from distant regions, such as Asia or North America, to Northern Europe) and feeder traffic, which redistributes cargo from the major North Range seaports to the Baltic, for example. The shift resulting from new shipping company constellations, alliances and participations in terminals towards more geographically flexible feeder traffic is having an impact on handling volumes. By contrast, handling volumes of overseas traffic that are tied to the port’s natural catchment area are relocated less frequently. Competition in maritime hinterland transport by rail or truck is becoming more intensive, not least as a result of shipping companies entering the market through horizontal business field strategies.

Competitive environment

The market for port services of significance to HHLA on the Northern European coast (the North Range) is characterised by its high concentration of ports. Competition is particularly strong between the four largest North Range ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges, Hamburg (HHLA’s main hub) and the Bremen ports.

Container throughput at the North Range ports

Handling volumes and market shares 1–9 | 2024

As the most easterly North Sea port, the Port of Hamburg’s position makes it the ideal hub for the entire Baltic region and for hinterland traffic to and from Central and Eastern Europe. Furthermore, the long-standing trading relationships between the Port of Hamburg and the Asian markets are advancing Hamburg’s role as a major European container hub. With container throughput of 7.8 million TEU, Hamburg is expected to rank 23rd among ports worldwide in 2024, cementing its status as the third-largest European container port after Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges. In the Port of Hamburg, HHLA is a direct competitor of Eurogate, particularly with regard to overseas services: HHLA operates three container terminals in Hamburg, while Eurogate operates one. With a throughput volume of 5.8 million TEU in the 2024 financial year, HHLA remained the largest container handling company in the Port of Hamburg despite a slight decrease in market share to 74.8 % (previous year: 75.6 %). The major shipping regions were Asia, North America, Scandinavia and the Baltic region, as well as the other European routes.

Container throughput at the North Range ports

in million TEU

Container throughput by shipping region

in the Port of Hamburg in 2024

The Baltic Sea ports are served by high feeder traffic operating via central distribution points in the North Range. Ports such as Gdansk and Gothenburg, however, are also used by ocean-going vessels. Gdansk in particular experienced strong growth in the years up to 2022. In the past two years 2022 and 2023, container handling volumes at the Port of Gdansk declined due to the war in Ukraine and the general economic environment in Europe. However, significant volume growth was achieved again in the first three quarters of 2024. The Port of Gdansk is a serious competitor within this network system. The expansion of the port and the Baltic Hub terminal in particular continues to make progress.

With HHLA TK Estonia, HHLA has been operating one of Estonia’s most important multi-function terminals in the Port of Muuga near Tallinn since 2018. Due to the wide range of services, including container handling and the processing of RoRo traffic, as well as general cargo and bulk cargo, the terminal is highly diversified. Furthermore, the Port of Muuga is part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), which includes rail routes, inland waterways, shorter seaborne routes and roads.

The Adriatic region with ports such as Koper and Trieste has also developed dynamically in recent years. Having acquired a majority shareholding in the multi-function terminal “Piattaforma Logistica Trieste” (PLT) in Trieste in 2021, HHLA has positioned itself in a market that offers good opportunities for development, including the opportunity to actively participate in and help shape new and changing cargo flows. The terminal has its own rail connection. The Port of Trieste is also integrated into the European intermodal network of HHLA’s rail subsidiary METRANS. During the 2024 financial year, two container services regularly called at the terminal, which links ports within the Mediterranean region.

The Container Terminal Odessa (CTO) on the Black Sea is Ukraine’s largest container terminal. It has been operated by the HHLA Group since 2001 and previously handled bulk cargo, general cargo and project cargo in addition to containers. With the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, seaborne container handling at the CTO was suspended by the authorities. All that was possible was the partial loading of grain ships to comply with international agreements. Seaborne handling, however, resumed in the third quarter of 2024. Given the current geopolitical situation and the restricted business operations, it remains difficult to assess the market environment.

Intermodal segment

Competitive factors

In addition to the density of the available network, key competitive factors for intermodal transport – which is becoming increasingly significant in terms of the competition between ports – include the frequency of departures, opportunities for freight pooling and storage in the hinterland, the geographical distance to destinations, punctuality and infrastructural capacity.

Competitive environment

With regard to container transport by train, the state railway companies compete with a variety of private rail operators and intermodal transport firms, as well as with other carriers such as trucks and barges or feeder ships. As rail infrastructure is mainly publicly owned, various national authorities guard against discrimination in terms of both access and usage fees.

HHLA operates proprietary inland terminals in Central and Eastern Europe along with its own container wagons and traction fleet (locomotives), all of which are central to the company’s service offering. This is necessary to enable HHLA to run direct trains with frequent and highly punctual departures. HHLA occupies relevant market positions in the majority of the regions it serves in the field of intermodal transport. HHLA has a sound market position in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region in the delivery and collection of containers by truck.

Intermodal network of HHLA

Selected connections

Intermodal network of HHLA

Selected connections

Logistics segment

The Logistics segment serves various market sectors, some of which are highly specialised. With its multi-function terminal Unikai, HHLA is the leading provider of specialist handling services in Hamburg. Via Hansaport, HHLA has a stake in Germany’s biggest seaport terminal for handling iron ore and coal. HHLA also provides fruit handling services for Northern Europe through its Frucht- und Kühl-Zentrum. The portfolio also includes consulting and management services for clients in the international port and transport industry. New business activities in process automation, airborne logistics services and digital services, particularly for the intermodal segment, complete the portfolio.

Real Estate segment

As a significant economic centre with a population of approximately 1.9 million, Hamburg is one of the largest property markets in Germany for the non-listed Real Estate segment. What makes its portfolio particularly attractive are its unique buildings and favourable locations in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt historical warehouse district and on the northern banks of the river Elbe/fish market area. The company has built up a wealth of development and implementation expertise dedicated to finding the right balance between market-based tenant demands and careful handling of its landmarked buildings with world heritage status. These commercial spaces compete with German and international investors marketing high-quality properties in comparable locations.