Introduction
Germany’s major seaports play a crucial role in its economy, facilitating international trade and logistics. Among these, the Port of Hamburg stands out as the most significant, often referred to as Germany’s “Gateway to the World.” This port is renowned for its large container handling capacity, making it one of the busiest in Europe. Other notable German ports include the Port of Bremen and Bremerhaven, integral in handling cargo and passenger traffic. These ports, with their advanced infrastructure and strategic locations, contribute significantly to Germany’s standing in global maritime commerce.
Major Seaports in Germany
Germany is the largest economy in Europe and has the second most people. Germany is the fourth-largest economy in the world, after the United States, China, and Japan. It is also the third-largest exporter and third-largest importer of goods.
The US (9% of total exports), France (8%), China, the UK, and the Netherlands (7%), Italy, Austria, and Poland (5%), Switzerland (4%), and Belgium, Spain, and the Czech Republic (3% each) are its biggest export partners.
Germany’s exports and imports depend on the ports in the country. The government of Germany runs these ports through the Ports authority of Germany.
Here is a list of the major international cargo seaports in Germany:
Port of Hamburg
The Port of Hamburg is a seaport in Hamburg, Germany. It is on the river Elbe, about 110 kilometers from where it flows into the North Sea. It has the most traffic of any port in Germany and is known as the “Gateway to the World” for Germany.
The total number of ships that can dock at the Hamburg port is 320, and it can be used by any cargo ship. Its area is up to 7,250 Hectares. Frederick 1 opened this port on May 7, 1189. This is almost as old as the history of Hamburg.
Hamburg is the 15th largest seaport in the world, and after Rotterdam and Antwerp, it is the third busiest port in Europe in terms of TEU. The port of Hamburg is an essential link between Eastern and Central Europe, and it handles 25% of all shipping within Europe.
| Information | Value |
|---|---|
| Address | Mattentwiete 2, Hamburg D - 20457, Germany |
| Port Authority | Port Authority of Hamburg |
| Phone | +49-40 / 37 709 -0 |
| Fax | +49-40/37 709-109 |
| info@hafen-hamburg.de | |
| Coordinates | 53º 32' 51'' N, 9º 58' 9'' E |
| Decimal | 53.54772, 9.9694064 |
| UN/LOCODE | DEHAM |
| Port Type | Seaport |
| Port Size | Very Large |
| Website | www.hafen-hamburg.de |
| Terminal | Yes |
Port of Bremen
The Ports of Bremen, also called “Bremish Ports,” are the trading ports of Bremen and Bremerhaven. They are some of the biggest ports in Germany. The most important industrial centre in Germany, the port of Bremen, is on the Weser river, about 70 kilometres from the North Sea.
They are run by a private company called Bremen ports GmbH & Co. KG, which has a position on public property. In 1032, when its business began to grow with the Netherlands, Norway, and England, it built its first stone wall.
In 2023, more than 60 million tonnes of goods were moved from one place to another. This included 6 million containers and 2.1 million cars. Bremerhaven port is the busiest port in the world for moving cars. Balge was Bremen’s first port. It was on a narrow branch of the river Weser.
| Information | Value |
|---|---|
| Address | Hansestadt Bremisches, Ueberseetor 2, Bremen, Germany |
| Port Authority | Bremen Port Authority |
| Phone | 49 421 361 8504 |
| Fax | 49 421 361 8387 |
| bremen-port@hbh.bremen.de | |
| Coordinates | 53º 4' 31'' N, 8º 47' 43'' E |
| Decimal | 53.0753273, 8.795414 |
| UN/LOCODE | DEBRE |
| Port Type | River Port |
| Port Size | Medium |
| Website | www.bremen-ports.de |
| Terminal | Yes |
Port of Wilhelmshaven
The port of Wilhelmshaven is the only deep-water port between the Ems and the Weser rivers. It is on the western side of the Jade delta. This Port of Wilhelmshaven in Germany is a small port. This port is behind a sea lock with two chambers, and it is split into two parts: the outer deep-water port with its unusual transhipment bridges, and the inner harbour, which is not affected by the tides.
Wilhelmshaven is in the middle of the area where oil products, crude oil, and chemical products are shipped. It is also the main place where coal is moved for the whole German market.
The port of Wilhelmshaven has modern facilities for moving containers, refrigerated cargo, food, bulk cargo, project shipments, and other types of cargo. The next generation of big container ships will dock at the container terminal in Wilhelmshaven at the Jade Weser port.
Port of Duisburg
The quays along the river at Duisburg-Ruhrort, which is the world’s largest river port, stretch for almost 40 km. It is in Duisburg, which is in West Germany, about 20 km north of Dusseldorf. This port is between the 774th and 781st kilometres of the Rhine and the Ruhr Channel.
The main port for inland shipping in Germany is at Duisburg-Ruhrort. It is also thought to be the biggest inland port in Europe, and it is the biggest inland port in the whole world when it comes to both public and private port services. There is covered storage space here of about 1.5 million m2 that can be used. The seaports of Amsterdam, Hamburg, Emden, Antwerp, and Rotterdam are all connected to the pan-European waterway through the port of Duisburg-Ruhrort.
| Information | Value |
|---|---|
| Address | Alte Ruhrorter Str. 42 - 52, Duisburg 47119, Germany |
| Port Authority | Duisburger Hafen AG |
| Phone | +49 0 203-803-1 |
| Fax | +49 0 203-803-232 |
| mail@duisport.de | |
| Coordinates | 51º 25' 48'' N, 6º 43' 26'' E |
| Decimal Coordinates | 51.4302385, 6.7240297 |
| UN/LOCODE | DEDUI |
| Port Type | River Port |
| Port Size | Large |
| Website | www.duisport.de |
| Terminal | No |
Other seaports in Germany
| Port Name | Address | City Name |
|---|---|---|
| Berlin Port | Westhafenstraße 1, 13353 Berlin | Berlin |
| Bonn Port | Rheinaustraße 1, 53179 Bonn | Bonn |
| Bramel Port | Brameler Str. 41, 27628 Bramstedt | Bramstedt |
| Braunschweig Port | Hafenstraße 1, 38112 Braunschweig | Braunschweig |
| Bremen Port | Senator-Apelt-Straße 1, 28197 Bremen | Bremen |
| Bremerhaven Port | Hafenstraße 1, 27568 Bremerhaven | Bremerhaven |
| Brunsbuttel Port | Elbehafen, 25541 Brunsbüttel | Brunsbüttel |
| Busum Port | Hafenstraße 1, 25761 Büsum | Büsum |
| Butzfleth Port | Butzflether Str. 1, 21720 Stade | Stade |
| Cologne Port | Auenweg 173, 51063 Köln | Cologne |
| Cuxhaven Port | Kapitän-Alexander-Straße 1, 27472 Cuxhaven | Cuxhaven |
| Dortmund Port | Speicherstraße 10, 44147 Dortmund | Dortmund |
| Duisburg Port | Alte Ruhrorter Straße 42-52, 47119 Duisburg | Duisburg |
| Dusseldorf Port | Pariser Str. 4, 40549 Düsseldorf | Düsseldorf |
| Eckernforde Port | Am Hafen 1, 24340 Eckernförde | Eckernförde |
| Elsfleth Port | Am Weserufer 1, 26931 Elsfleth | Elsfleth |
| Gersheim Port | Am Hafen 1, 65812 Bad Soden am Taunus | Bad Soden |
| Giessen Port | Hafenstraße 1, 35390 Gießen | Gießen |
| Gluckstadt Port | Am Hafen 1, 25348 Glückstadt | Glückstadt |
| Hamburg Port | Bei den St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken, 20359 Hamburg | Hamburg |
| Hamburg-Harburg Port | Hafenstraße 1, 21079 Hamburg | Hamburg-Harburg |
| Heidelberg Port | Bergheimer Str. 69, 69115 Heidelberg | Heidelberg |
| Heiligenhafen Port | Am Hafen 2, 23774 Heiligenhafen | Heiligenhafen |
| Hollage Port | Holzhausenstraße 23, 49205 Hasbergen | Hasbergen |
| Holtenau Port | Kanalstraße 1, 24159 Kiel | Kiel |
| Husum Port | Schiffbrücke 1, 25813 Husum | Husum |
| Itzehoe Port | Hafenstraße 1, 25524 Itzehoe | Itzehoe |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Germany’s major seaports, particularly the Port of Hamburg, are vital to its economic strength and global trade presence. These ports, with their advanced facilities and strategic locations, efficiently handle vast quantities of cargo, reinforcing Germany’s status as a key player in international maritime commerce. The efficiency and capacity of these ports not only support Germany’s economy but also significantly contribute to the global shipping and logistics industry.
For international shipping from China to Germany or neighboring countries, we recommend visiting our dedicated page.
FAQ
The Port of Hamburg, known as Germany's "Gateway to the World," is the busiest in Germany and crucial for global trade. It's distinguished by its large container capacity and strategic location, playing a key role in Europe's maritime commerce.
The Ports of Bremen, including Bremerhaven, are major German ports significant for handling vast amounts of cargo and vehicles. Bremerhaven is particularly noted for being the world's busiest port for automobile shipments.
Wilhelmshaven is Germany's only deep-water port, vital for handling oil and coal. Duisburg-Ruhrort, the world's largest river port, is crucial for inland shipping and offers extensive storage and handling facilities.
