Russia Ukraine Update
Impact on the Port of Hamburg
The European Union has imposed far-reaching sanctions on the Russian Federation in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine. This has also had effects on the Port of Hamburg. Large amounts of cargo in trade with the Russian market are handled there. Russia plays an important role in the Port of Hamburg, particularly for imports of bulk cargo. These goods were not affected by the first sanctions. However, that changed with the European Union’s sixth package of sanctions adopted on 3 June 2022. This bundle of sanctions includes a far-reaching embargo on Russian oil among other things. Imports of Russian crude oil are to be phased out over a period of six months and other refined petroleum products within eight months. No more Russian oil is to be shipped to the EU by sea next year.
The transhipment of goods to and from Russia is of considerable importance for the Port of Hamburg. The Russian Federation ranked second among Port of Hamburg's trading partners in terms of seaborne cargo handling in 2021 with 10.8 million tonnes. Around seven million tonnes of this was bulk cargo. Containerised general cargo was just over 3.7 million tonnes. Only about 100,000 tonnes were other general cargo. Most of the goods handled with Russia are imported. About nine million tonnes come from Russia and only 1.8 million tonnes take the opposite route from the Port of Hamburg to Russia. Russia ranks first in bulk cargo trade in the Port of Hamburg. Imports of Russian goods are particularly important in this trade relation. Statistics show that Russia leads with the highest volumes in several categories of bulk cargo. Last year, the throughput of Russian petroleum products accounted for 3.6 million metric tons. During the same period, around 3.2 million tons of coal from Russia were discharged in Hamburg. With the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the European Union implemented the first sanctions against Russia. Since then, container throughput in the Port of Hamburg's trade with Russia has steadily declined. While throughput in 2013 was 718,000 TEU, last year it was 337,000 TEU. Container handling has been particularly affected by the sanctions so far. After a temporary halt, container terminals have announced that they will continue to handle non-sanctioned goods. However, these must be individually exempted by customs.Transhipment to and from Russia
Seaborne cargo Hamburg - Russia (import in 2021 approx. 9 million tonnes)
Bulk cargo dominates Russia trade
Seaborne cargo Hamburg - Russia (export 2021 approx. 1.85 million tonnes)
Container throughput down
Container traffic Hamburg - Russia
HHM/Hasenpush Productions Regular liner services used to run between the Port of Hamburg and the Russian Baltic Sea ports of St. Petersburg,Ust-Luga,Kaliningrad and Bronka. There were also sporadic services to the ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk. In total,there were 13 liner services with these ports last year. Information on the current status of these services can be obtained from the respective shipping companies. The Port of Hamburg's liner services in intercontinental maritime traffic and in European feeder and short-sea traffic can be found in the "Port of Hamburg Liner Services" database.Liner services between Hamburg and Russia
Port of Hamburg Liner Services
