Container segment

In the first three quarters of 2026, container throughput decreased significantly year-on-year by 7.3 % to 4,446 thousand standard containers (TEU) (previous year: 4,798 thousand TEU).

At 4,200 thousand TEU, throughput volume at the Hamburg container terminals was down 7.7 % on the same period last year (previous year: 4,548 thousand TEU). Volumes in the reporting period were particularly affected by the ongoing modernisation measures at the Hamburg terminals and by adjustments to international transport and goods flows in response to geopolitical tensions. These headwinds were compounded by harsh winter weather at the start of the year and strike-related disruptions in the third quarter. Overseas traffic with North America and the Far East, particularly China, decreased. Growth in traffic with Australia and the Middle East, as well as with other European seaports, was not sufficient to compensate for this development.

Volumes for feeder traffic also decreased significantly year-on-year. In particular, traffic from Scandinavia, Estonia and the United Kingdom fell significantly. By contrast, cargo volumes from Germany, Belgium, France and Poland were up. The proportion of seaborne handling by feeders declined further to 18.9 % (previous year: 19.6 %).

Despite the positive trend in the first half of the year, there was a slight year-on-year decline of 1.6 % in throughput volumes at the international container terminals to 246 thousand TEU (previous year: 250 thousand TEU). This was due in particular to the adverse economic situation in Estonia, as well as to re-routings in the Mediterranean caused by geopolitical tensions. Although container throughput at Container Terminal Odessa (CTO) is substantially higher on the whole than in the previous year, this was not sufficient to compensate for these developments. Odessa in fact came to a virtual standstill in the third quarter, due to the fraught security situation and associated operational restrictions.

Despite the significant decline in volumes, Container segment revenue fell only slightly by 0.7 % to € 637.2 million in the reporting period (previous year: € 641.8 million). Revenue was supported by additional storage fees due to longer dwell times and by the positive revenue trend at HHLA’s international container terminals.

Compared to the first three quarters of 2025, there was a net increase in operating expenses and other operating income (together defined as EBIT costs) of 4.5 %. This was driven in particular by a moderate rise in personnel expenses due to union-negotiated wage settlements and the additional deployment of personnel from the GHB pool.

Moreover, modernisation measures and the introduction of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in berths 1 to 4 of Container Terminal Burchardkai (CTB), as well as the replacement of container gantry cranes at Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA), negatively impacted productivity and led to additional expenses. There was also a strong increase in depreciation and amortisation due in particular to the commissioning of new large-scale equipment and the new workshop at CTB. Despite the fall in volumes, the cost of materials was slightly above the prior-year level. This was largely the result of higher fuel costs caused by the escalation of the Middle-East conflict.

Due to the decline in seaborne handling volumes and significantly increased expenses, the operating result (EBIT) decreased by 51.3 % to € 29.4 million (previous year: € 60.4 million). The EBIT margin fell by 4.8 percentage points to 4.6 % (previous year: 9.4 %).

HHLA remains committed to the modernisation of its Hamburg container terminals and investments in climate-friendly and forward-looking terminal technology.

At CTA, electrification of the hinterland fleet is now complete, with 20 battery-driven electric tractor units and the associated charging infrastructure. The fifth rail gantry crane was put into operation in the second quarter of 2026; preparations are underway to acquire a further rail gantry crane to replace one of those already in service. Three new dual-trolley container gantry cranes entered operation in April 2026. Progress is being made on stabilising productivity. Three further container gantry cranes are currently being brought into service, with the first operational tests scheduled to take place before the end of 2026. Delivery of the third batch is expected in the second quarter of 2027, and the order for a fourth batch has already been placed.

At CTB, preparatory work was carried out on blocks 28 and 29 of the warehouse crane system. AGV handling has been expanded to berths 3 and 4 and will be extended to further berths in the next phase. In addition, the workshop building that was constructed as part of the AGV project been put into operation. The acquisition of a new container gantry crane for berths 1 and 2 is planned for 2027.

At Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT), eight hybrid straddle carriers have been ordered, acceptance of which is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. Moreover, the handling areas for Airbus aircraft parts have been expanded, doubling the capacity for these complex cargo items. Throughput volumes for the first three quarters of 2026 are already higher than for the whole of the previous year.