The goods handled as bulk cargo in maritime transport—such as ore, coal, building materials, oilseeds, grain, animal feed, fertilisers, and mineral oil products—reached a total volume of 33.1 million tonnes at the Port of Hamburg in 2024. This represents a decline of 8.6 per cent compared to the previous year.

The energy transition is impacting bulk cargo throughput: the reduced use of fossil fuels has affected handling volumes. In 2024, companies imported approximately 3.8 million tonnes of coal, a 2.1 per cent decrease from the previous year. The import volume of mineral oil products fell by 21.7 per cent to 5.7 million tonnes. This decline is attributed to the high handling levels in 2023, weaker economic performance, and mild temperatures in 2024.

On a positive note, oilseed imports increased by 5.6 per cent to 3.2 million tonnes, while animal feed exports rose by 9.4 per cent to 1.4 million tonnes.