05-06. MayJun 2022 issue-v2.qxp_Pages-12-40-JanFeb WPD 01/06/2022 12:39 Page 3
port survey
germany
German Ports: crisis-proof and fit for the future Claire Instone reports…
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n 2021, the Coronavirus pandemic posed great challenges for the port’s industry, and German ports were no exception. Although world trade began to recover in 2021, the catch-up effects of various national economies and the Chinese “zero-COVID policy” continued to disrupt global supply chains which had previously run so smoothly. Goods either did not arrive at all or arrived too late and containers piled up at terminals because they could no longer immediately be forwarded to their final destination. Despite the challenges, German ports performed successfully. “As logistics specialists, we are used to dealing with unusual challenges. Over the past two years, it was the pandemic that demanded much of us; now it is the war in Ukraine, which violates international law,” states Angela Titzrath, Chairwoman of HHLA’s Executive Board.
16 World Port Development June 2022
Regardless of the crisis, the Port of Hamburg achieved impressive results for 2021 and is optimistic about the coming year as stated by Titzrath: “HHLA is robust and stable enough and in a sufficiently solid financial position to continue to reliably fulfil its supply mandate in difficult times.” Markus Bangen, CEO, duisport Group is also looking to the future with confidence: “At the moment, it’s almost impossible to make any reliable forecasts about the rest of the 2022 financial year. The Ukraine war and the enormous hike in energy prices have severely clouded the mood in the German economy as a whole. Nevertheless, I’m convinced that the duisport Group will emerge from this crisis in a strong position and that we’ve already taken the right steps in many areas to position ourselves as modern and fit for the future.” duisport also saw a rise in throughput and a hike across many cargo sectors last year, as did the ports of Bremen, Bremerhaven and Rostock.
Herein, I am delighted to bring readers an overview of the achievements and progress at Germany’s major ports across 2021. As for what 2022 will have in store remains to be seen. The existing uncertainty on the global markets has been amplified by the escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Such activity will have unforeseeable consequences for the economy in Europe and beyond. Whatever happens, German ports have proved they are crisis-proof and fit for the future. Hamburg Despite the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Hamburger Hafen and Logistik AG (HHLA) performed successfully in the 2021 financial year. “Our results in the last financial year are an impressive demonstration. These results will strengthen us as we continue to implement our strategy, which is geared towards growth and sustainability. In order to meet the challenges of our customers, and of the future, we will position HHLA to become even more innovative, digital and sustainable,” says Titzrath.
