After three consecutive years of decline, the Port of Hamburg saw its throughput recover to growth last year, with total throughput reaching 114.6 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 2.6%. This recovery was primarily driven by the container segment, where container throughput grew significantly, handling 8.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), an increase of 7.3%; measured by tonnage, container throughput also rose by 4.6%. The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) stated that growth was recorded in every quarter, with Sales Director Friedrich Stuhrmann noting, "The sustained growth demonstrates the port's competitiveness and the strong demand in international trade."

The growth in container throughput showed regional variations. Business with the United States declined by 25.6% due to tariff measures, but strong growth in Asian business offset the negative impact. Container throughput with China increased by 6.5%, with Malaysia by 84.3%, and with India by 49.2%. Additionally, in the Northern European route region, including Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, throughput also grew by 21.2%, which supported transshipment business.

In contrast, the bulk cargo sector continued to face pressure, with total throughput declining by 1.7% to 32.4 million tons. Dry bulk cargo fell by 2.7%, with grain throughput plummeting by 45.8%, and fertilizers and ores declining by 5.6% and 4.3%, respectively. However, some categories showed positive performance, such as construction materials, which grew by 19.5%, other dry bulk cargo by 17.1%, chemicals by 16.3%, and liquid bulk cargo by a slight 0.7%. Overall, the growth in container throughput at the Port of Hamburg was a key factor driving the overall recovery, demonstrating the port's resilience in international trade.