Port of Hamburg general cargo imports
Port of Hamburg general cargo imports stood at 43.7 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 | |||||||||||
| Imports | 43.7 | 39.7 | 38.8 | 42.4 | 44.1 | 42.2 | 46.1 | 45.8 | 45.3 | 45.6 | |
| Exports | 38.5 | 39 | 39.3 | 41.3 | 44.8 | 45.6 | 49.2 | 45.2 | 46.4 | 47.6 |
Understanding port of Hamburg general cargo imports
Packaged merchandise, unitised freight, and breakbulk shipments unloaded from deep-sea carriers are aggregated here in million tonnes of gross weight. This row isolates non-bulk maritime imports, capturing items packed into standard shipping containers as well as conventional uncontainerised piece goods like heavy machinery, iron products, project cargo, and vehicles. It represents one of two subcomponents comprising total seaborne cargo imports, standing alongside bulk cargo imports. Any unpackaged homogeneous commodities, such as ores or petroleum products, are omitted from this tally and classified under bulk cargo.
Year-on-year tracking provides an undistorted perspective on inbound unitised freight by filtering out calendar volatility linked to factory shutdowns and seasonal service alterations. Because modern general cargo is overwhelmingly containerised, movements in this series correlate with container metrics, yet tonnage figures capture gross weight—including container boxes and palletisation—rather than standardized box units. Discrepancies between this metric and foreign trade statistics arise because port records track physical goods arriving at maritime terminals irrespective of whether they clear customs locally or transit to hinterland destinations. Early annual statistics are subject to post-release corrections as final stevedoring discharge reports are audited.
Frequently asked questions
- Does general cargo include containerised shipping?
- Yes, containerised freight forms the largest part of general cargo imports, alongside conventional non-containerised breakbulk shipments.
- How does this series differ from container throughput measured in TEU?
- This metric reflects total physical weight in million tonnes, whereas container throughput tallies the number of standard container boxes regardless of weight.
- What distinguishes general cargo imports from bulk cargo imports?
- General cargo consists of packaged, unitised, or piece items, whereas bulk cargo encompasses loose, unpackaged raw materials such as grain or crude oil.