News
Combined container throughput at the EU’s top 15 ports amounted to 79.46 million TEUs in the first half (January–June), according to Belgian port economist Theo Notteboom.
Growth was notable at Gdansk, which handled 2.77 million TEUs, up 23% year on year, and Wilhelmshaven, 1.45 million TEUs, up 36%.
The combined volume at the top three, Rotterdam, Antwerp-Zeebrugge, and Hamburg, however, decreased 1.5% to 36.18 million TEUs. Volumes were relatively steady at Rotterdam and Antwerp-Zeebrugge, which were down 0.1% to 14.25 million TEUs and down 1.5% to 13.63 million TEUs, respectively. In contrast, throughput fell a severer 3.8% to 8.3 million TEUs at Hamburg, which could not sustain growth momentum.
However, volumes continued to recover at other German ports. Throughput jumped 36% at Wilhelmshaven, as described above. The port registered volume growths of 58% in 2024 and 74% in 2025. If this trend continues throughout the remainder of 2026, it is likely to enter the top 15 ranking, coming in 14th place. Bremerhaven performed well, too, handling 4.9 million TEUs, up 5.7%.
