First Half Results: German Seaports Handle More Containers, Less Bulk Cargo

German seaports reported a robust increase in cargo handling for the first half of 2026, with a 7% rise in sea-side throughput compared to the same period last year, totaling 31.1 million tons. The growth was primarily driven by container traffic and other general cargo, such as wind energy components and steel.

Container handling experienced a particularly strong surge, growing by 36% compared to the first half of 2025. This significant increase means containers and other general cargo now constitute a substantial portion of the overall cargo volume handled by ports in Lower Saxony. The volume of new vehicles processed remained stable at the previous year's level.

Wilhelmshaven emerged as the strongest port, experiencing growth in containers, coal, building materials, and new vehicles, although it saw declines in crude oil and petroleum products. Stade and Papenburg also reported gains, attributed to increased demand from local industries and higher volumes of general and project cargo in Stade, and a rise in both sea and inland waterway transport in Papenburg.

However, the performance was not uniform across all ports. Brake, Cuxhaven, Emden, and Nordenham showed weaker development. In Brake, declines in grain and feedstuff, along with U.S. customs policies, impacted throughput. Cuxhaven lacked construction materials that had boosted figures the previous year. Emden's gains in wind energy components and liquid bulk cargo could not offset other decreases, while Nordenham saw a reduction in coal and liquid gas shipments. Oldenburg remained inaccessible to seagoing vessels due to ongoing bridge construction, relying on inland barges and rail for supply.