Container segment

In the first six months of 2025, container throughput at HHLA’s container terminals made good progress with significant year-on-year growth of 7.9 % to 3,172 thousand standard containers (TEU) (previous year: 2,940 thousand TEU).

Throughput volume at the Hamburg container terminals was up 6.9 % on the same period last year at 3,006 thousand TEU (previous year: 2,811 thousand TEU). Whereas volumes in overseas traffic declined strongly for the North America and Middle East shipping regions, there was significant volume growth for the Far East shipping region, especially for China. Additional cargo volume was also recorded for other European seaports, particularly in Belgium, the UK, France and the Netherlands. This was due to temporary route adjustments – which continue to apply – caused by the military conflict in the Red Sea. There was strong year-on-year growth in feeder traffic volumes. In addition to Finnish traffic, there was also a strong rise in container throughput with Poland and within Germany. Meanwhile, cargo volumes from Estonia were down. The proportion of seaborne handling by feeders amounted to 19.6 % (previous year: 18.7 %).

The international container terminals reported a strong increase in throughput volume of 28.7 % to 165 thousand TEU (previous year: 129 thousand TEU). In addition to the volume growth at HHLA PLT Italy, this was due in particular to the resumption of seaborne handling at Container Terminal Odessa (CTO) in the third quarter of 2024. Seaborne handling volumes at the multifunctional terminal HHLA TK Estonia also rose slightly.

Segment revenue rose strongly by 12.6 % to € 426.2 million in the reporting period (previous year: € 378.7 million), mainly as a result of the higher throughput volume. The positive trend at HHLA’s international container terminals also contributed to the increase in revenue. Alongside the above mentioned resumption of container ship handling at CTO, this was driven by the positive volume and revenue trend in Trieste and increased revenue from storage fees at the multifunctional terminal in Tallinn.

There was a net increase in other operating income and expenses included in the operating result (together defined as EBIT costs) of 11.4 % in the reporting period. This increase was mainly due to the development of throughput volumes. Personnel expenses also rose strongly due to union-negotiated wage settlements, the additional deployment of employees from the GHB pool, an increase in consultancy and services, and higher expenses for purchased services. Depreciation and amortisation expenses also rose slightly due to necessary capital expenditure. The measures introduced in March 2023 to safeguard earnings at the Hamburg container terminals, as well as further extensive transformation processes within the Container segment, had an opposing effect.

As a result of the increase in revenue, the operating result (EBIT) rose by 24.5 % to € 42.8 million (previous year: € 34.4 million). The EBIT margin rose by 0.9 percentage points to 10.0 % (previous year: 9.1 %).

In order to enhance its energy and cost efficiency, HHLA continued to invest in climate-friendly and state-of-the-art terminal technology.

At Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA), the installation of three new container gantry cranes continued to make progress. The new cranes are expected to be put into operation and boost the level of automation as of the second half of 2025. A second order is also under construction. Work continued on expanding the infrastructure for the electrification of tractor units. Nine of the 19 emission-free vehicles ordered were delivered in 2024 and have been put into operation. The highly automated rail gantry crane ordered last year is currently being assembled. Preparations are under way to retire the existing AGV system (AGV – automated guided vehicle) in 2026.

At Container Terminal Burchardkai (CTB), additional automated blocks were put into operation and construction work on the AGV site continued.

At Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT), a hydrogen-powered van carrier was delivered, which will be tested under operating conditions in the near future. A second rotating spreader for project cargo was also delivered.