Today, the Port of Hamburg is the most important export port for Central and Eastern Germany, especially for containerized cargo, but also for bulk and general cargo. The most important industries are traditional mechanical engineering, plant construction and vehicle manufacturing, as well as the chemical and coal and steel industries, but the new technology sectors such as photovoltaics and wind turbine construction are also becoming increasingly important.
The allpurpose Port of Hamburg benefits particularly from the well-developed transport infrastructure in the new federal states. The economic centers in Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin/Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are excellently connected to the Hamburg metropolitan region via efficient CT terminals. Container block trains run between the regional terminals and the Port of Hamburg several times a day. With a share of over 67 percent, rail is the most important mode of transport for goods from Saxony. Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt are also linked to the Port of Hamburg by regular scheduled services by inland waterway vessel. Large-volume goods up to 7.50 meters high can be transported on the Elbe and the Elbe canals.
In addition, all federal states are excellently connected to the Port of Hamburg via the autobahns. "Gap closures" in the highway network, for example the A 14 from Magdeburg via Wittenberge to Schwerin, will improve the connection of further regions.
