Port of Hamburg general cargo exports
Port of Hamburg general cargo exports stood at 38.5 million tonnes in 2025. It is one of the indicators in the Port of Hamburg table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 1989 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Port of Hamburg table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General cargo | |||||||||||
| Exports | 38.5 | 39 | 39.3 | 41.3 | 44.8 | 45.6 | 49.2 | 45.2 | 46.4 | 47.6 | |
| Imports | 43.7 | 39.7 | 38.8 | 42.4 | 44.1 | 42.2 | 46.1 | 45.8 | 45.3 | 45.6 |
Understanding port of Hamburg general cargo exports
Fabricated goods, crated machinery, and containerised loads dispatched overseas via maritime terminals define this indicator of outbound general cargo tonnage. The scope covers all unitised and breakbulk items loaded onto departing sea-going ships, including vehicles, structural components, and palletised commodities. In the table structure, it sits beside general cargo imports to form total general cargo throughput and pairs with bulk cargo exports to complete total seaborne exports. Bulk liquids, loose agricultural goods, and unpackaged mineral resources are completely excluded from this metric.
Assessing outbound volumes relative to the preceding calendar period offers a dependable benchmark of structural export activity, bypassing erratic swings from blanked voyages and carrier reroutings. Changes in this tonnage figure reflect shifts in outbound industrial shipments and consumer goods, but caution is warranted when comparing weight against economic export indicators. A higher proportion of empty containers repositioned abroad or shifts in container packing density can cause physical tonnage to fluctuate independently of trade values. Preliminary annual releases are refined in subsequent cycles once terminal loading tallies and ocean carrier voyage declarations are fully reconciled.
Frequently asked questions
- Are non-containerised vehicles and industrial equipment included in this metric?
- Yes, conventional breakbulk cargo and roll-on roll-off shipments are counted under general cargo exports alongside containerised goods.
- Does general cargo export tonnage include the tare weight of shipping containers?
- Yes, reported gross tonnage generally includes the tare weight of container boxes and packing materials accompanying outbound freight.
- Why can export tonnage trends differ from official export value statistics?
- This series measures physical mass in million tonnes, whereas national trade statistics track monetary value, which varies with commodity prices and product composition.