HHR Mumbai
In January 2011, a joint representation of Hamburg was opened in India's most important port city Mumbai with the "Hamburg Representative Office Mumbai.
© envato / elenakaretnikova2022
India - an economy on the rise
India is rapidly becoming a major force in the global economy. With remarkable economic growth and the world’s largest population, the subcontinent is playing an increasingly influential role in international trade. In 2024, India ranked as the fifth-largest economy with a GDP of around 3.9 trillion US dollars – and aims to reach third place by 2030. India is also gaining ground as a key trading partner for Germany. Since 2015, both imports and exports have seen steady growth. The Port of Hamburg serves as a vital link, acting as a gateway for goods moving between both nations.
Statement
"India and Hamburg share a strong and steadily growing trade relationship, shaped by joint efforts to diversify markets and strengthen resilience in a changing global landscape. The Port of Hamburg plays an important role in this partnership and continues to serve as a key hub for exchange. With a focus on innovation and knowledge sharing, there is significant potential to further deepen cooperation in the years ahead."
Sameeha Pradeep Sule, Representative at the Hamburg Representation Mumbai
Sameeha Pradeep Sule
Germany's foreign trade with India
According to the Federal Statistical Office, bilateral trade between Germany and India reached a new record high in 2024. Goods worth just under 33.4 billion US dollars were exchanged between the two countries. This places India 23rd among Germany’s most important trading partners – and among the top five outside Europe.
In 2024, German exports to India hit a new peak of 18.3 billion US dollars, around 55 per cent more than in 2014. Imports from India also saw strong growth, rising by over 60 per cent to 15.1 billion US dollars. Despite a slight decline in 2024, a clear trend continues: German imports from India are becoming increasingly diverse. Many companies are turning their attention to the subcontinent – not least as a strategic alternative to China.
In maritime trade, freight volume is commonly measured in tonnes. In 2024, around 4.6 million tonnes of goods were shipped between the two countries. Imports from India have increased significantly by weight since 2020 and, since 2021, have surpassed German exports in volume, reaching roughly 2.7 million tonnes in 2024. In the opposite direction – from Germany to India – roughly 2.0 million tonnes were exported in 2024, accounting for around 43 per cent of Germany’s total seaborne trade with India. By this measure, Germany remains India’s most important European trading partner in maritime transport.
Foreign trade Germany - India in million tonnes
Most important products in import and export with India
The majority of trade between Germany and India is seaborne, with around 84 percent of goods transported by ship. In terms of volume (based on tonnes), food and animal feed are the most imported goods, totalling approximately 440,000 tonnes in 2024. Imports of coke and mineral oil products have increased significantly, reaching nearly 390,000 tonnes - more than six times the volume recorded in 2018. This development can be attributed to compensation for the loss of direct supply chains for mineral oil products from Russia as a result of EU sanctions. Other major imports include chemical products, metals, and machinery.
Germany’s exports to India are led by chemical products, with around 630,000 tonnes shipped in 2024. Secondary raw materials, wood, metals, and machinery also play a key role. The Port of Hamburg is central to this trade, handling about 63 percent of Germany’s maritime cargo traffic with India, supported by its advanced infrastructure and logistics expertise.
The most important product groups in export to India
The most important products groups in import from India
Rise as a trading partner
The Port of Hamburg is the central hub for maritime trade between Germany and India. In 2024, around 2.79 million tonnes of goods were handled in trade with India – accounting for approximately 63% of the total sea freight volume between Germany and India.
About 85% of the sea freight volume between Hamburg and India is attributable to container traffic. Since 2020, direct shipping services with India have been showing a positive trend. In 2024, around 195,000 TEU were recorded in bilateral container handling – an increase of 21% compared to 2020. This places India eighth among the Port of Hamburg’s most important trading partners in container traffic.
Growth continued in the first quarter of 2025: container throughput rose by 39.6% to 60,000 TEU. As a result, India climbed to seventh place among Hamburg’s key partner countries and third among its Asian trading partners.
The Port of Hamburg's most important partner countries in 2024
© HHM / Hasenpusch Productions
Liner services between India and Hamburg
The Port of Hamburg is connected to India via 12 regularly scheduled liner services. These include six container services, three vehicle transport services, and three general cargo services that also handle heavy-lift cargo. The container vessels operating on the India trade routes have capacities ranging from 5,700 to 15,400 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). Multipurpose vessels with deadweight capacities between 12,000 and 30,000 tonnes are also in use.
Three of the container services were only launched at the beginning of 2025. They form part of the Gemini Cooperation—a new alliance between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd launched in February 2025—as well as the Premier Alliance, which includes ONE, HMM, and Yang Ming. This realignment of container services highlights the growing importance of the Indian subcontinent as an emerging market segment for the Port of Hamburg and represents a strategic strengthening of its role in South Asian trade.
Through these liner services, the Elbe metropolis is connected to six key Indian ports distributed across the subcontinent: Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Mumbai, Chennai, Ennore, and Hazira. Depending on the port, trade lane, and service rotation, typical transit times are approximately two weeks to India’s west coast and around three weeks to the east coast.
In addition, there are six liner services (five container and one multipurpose service) linking Hamburg with Colombo, Sri Lanka—a major transshipment hub for Indian cargo. However, India is actively developing more direct connections to European ports in an effort to reduce its reliance on transshipment hubs such as Colombo and Singapore. These direct links have the potential to accelerate maritime transport between India and Germany.
India's investments in infrastructure and logistics
In recent years, the Indian government has taken extensive measures to modernise the country’s infrastructure and enhance the performance of its logistics sector. A key initiative in this effort is the National Logistics Policy, which aims to improve supply chain efficiency and reduce logistics costs. In parallel, targeted investments are being made in expanding road and rail networks to meet the growing demands of freight transport. The 2025/26 budget alone allocates USD 129 billion to infrastructure development.
A particular focus lies on port infrastructure. Through the comprehensive Sagarmala programme, India aims to modernise its seaports, accelerate cargo movement, and strengthen international trade. The programme includes 243 projects with a total investment volume of USD 21 billion, to be implemented by 2035. These include, among others, the deep-water port of Vizhinjam, which became operational in late 2023 and allows large container ships to call directly at Indian ports for the first time, as well as the new Vadhavan Port, set for completion by 2028 and expected to play a key role in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). A strategically located container transhipment port is also under construction in Galathea Bay on Great Nicobar Island, near the heavily trafficked Strait of Malacca.
Alongside port upgrades, India is also investing in improved connectivity: new road, rail, and inland waterway links are being developed to ensure smooth connections between ports and industrial hinterlands. These efforts are complemented by a planned Maritime Development Fund worth USD 3 billion, aimed at supporting the national shipbuilding industry.
Maritime India Vision 2030
To coordinate the growth of the maritime sector, a key component of the Indian economy, the Indian Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has launched Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV 2030). This long-term strategy aims to establish India as a global leader in the maritime sector. With investments totalling around 33 to 39 billion euros, the plan is to modernise ports, improve logistics chains and create two million new jobs.
MIV 2030 comprises over 150 initiatives, including developing ports to global standards. By 2025, India is on the right track! In 2024, the government approved the construction of the new Vadhavan container port, one of India's largest port projects. Designed as a green and smart port, it is set to become one of the top 10 container ports worldwide, with a capacity of around 23.2 million TEU. In early June 2025, the Port of Vizhinjam welcomed its first ultra-large container ship, the MSC Irina, showcasing the port's deep-water capabilities. Meanwhile, the development of the International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP) in Galathea Bay is also progressing.
In addition, the Indian government is planning to launch a container shipping company called Bharat Container Line (BCL) in order to reduce its dependence on foreign ships and strengthen international trade. The initial plan is to establish a fleet of 100 container ships, which will operate on major trade routes, initially in Asia and the Red Sea.
© envato / Hardik Joshi
Hamburg in India
Germany and India share great potential for closer cooperation. To support this, the Hamburg Representative Office Mumbai (HRM) was opened in 2011. It is the joint representation of the Hamburg Senate Chancellery, the Chamber of Commerce, Hamburg Invest, Hamburg Messe and Congress and Port of Hamburg Marketing in India.
Located in Mumbai – India’s economic hub and close to its busiest port – HRM promotes exchange in business, logistics, politics, culture, and education. With strong local networks, it serves as a reliable point of contact for German and Indian companies looking to engage with the respective partner market.