New connections between China and Hamburg

For the fourth time in a row, Port of Hamburg participated at China International Import Expo (CIIE).

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), Hamburg's largest port handling and logistics company, and Hafen Hamburg Marketing (HHM) represented Port of Hamburg with a stand at CIIE. In addition to the diverse connections between China and Hamburg, the focus was also on the sustainable transport solutions that Hamburg may offer. In recent years, CIIE has developed into an important meeting place for representatives of the transport and logistics industry. Around half a million visitors came to the CIIE in Hamburg's partner city Shanghai from 5 to 10 November this year. With almost 3,000 exhibitors from 127 countries and regions, the number of companies increased again compared to last year.

“We are delighted that we were able to welcome so many interested experts at our joint stand with HHLA. We were particularly honoured by the visit of Shanghai's Vice Mayor ZONG Ming, the Vice Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government GU Honghui, as well as ZHANG Xiaosong, Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People‘s Government. We were also very pleased to meet again with TONG Jisheng, Chairman of Orient International Holdings Co. Ltd. and operator of the Shanghai-Express,” said Axel Mattern, CEO of Hafen Hamburg Marketing. He further elaborated: “After the tense first few months of this year, which were shaped by the ongoing global pandemic, we are now looking to the future with more confidence. A very positive result in trade with the People's Republic of China in the first half of the year also contributes to this.”

Around 2.4 million standard containers (TEU) related to Chinese trade are handled annually in the seaports of Hamburg. Almost every third container transshipped through Port of Hamburg is from or destined for China, making the People's Republic of China by far the port's most important trading partner.

As a supporting event of CIIE, HHLA, HHM and Hamburg Liaison Office China (HLO) co-organized the “German Logistics Roundtable” for the second time as a face-to-face event on November 8th. Together with Eurogate, Rhenus Logistics China and DB Cargo, HHM and HHLA informed the about the diverse range of services offered by Port of Hamburg and its worldwide connections - by ship and rail. The event was attended by 80 participants.

The railway connections of the New Silk Road between China and Europe were a frequent topic at the Port of Hamburg booth. "Currently 230 weekly rail connections between Hamburg and over 20 Chinese destinations are being offered - an ideal addition to around 15 liner services that connect China and Hamburg every week by sea," explains Axel Mattern. Last month, the first freight train from Shanghai reached the DUSS terminal in Hamburg-Billwerder. Peter Tschentscher, Hamburg's First Mayor, sees the new container train connection as a further strengthening of trade relations between Hamburg and China: “I am delighted that with the ‘Shanghai-Express’, a direct freight train service between Hamburg and Shanghai has now commenced. Hamburg and Shanghai have been partner cities for 35 years. We cooperate especially in trade and industry, but also on science and research, on education and culture. This new container train service brings Hamburg and Shanghai closer together. It is an important addition to German-Chinese trade routes.”