Brake, 5 September 2025 | Functioning seaports are a prerequisite for global trade and, at the same time, important economic drivers in their respective regions. However, geopolitical uncertainties are affecting the economy and thus also the business of port and logistics service providers. The fact that this entails risks but also offers opportunities that can be recognised and seized became clear at today’s 33rd Lower Saxony Port Day in Brake. Trade agreements and deeper economic relations with countries in South America, Eastern Europe, or Central Asia offer interesting potential, and the seaports in Lower Saxony are also key pillars of industrial transformation.

An unpredictable US tariff policy, global conflict zones, structural problems in the economy — the list of current challenges for the port industry, not only in Lower Saxony, is long. At the 33rd Lower Saxony Port Day, which took place today in Brake with around 270 invited guests from business, politics, public administration and the media, the focus was not only on how north-west Germany’s economy and its seaports are affected by current trade restrictions, but also on the new perspectives that may emerge with regard to new markets and existing specialisations. Thanks to forward-looking public and private investment and a strong, innovative port industry, Lower Saxony’s seaports are fundamentally well positioned.

“When we talk about new opportunities in changing markets, we also speak of strategic foresight, entrepreneurial courage, and a maximum degree of flexibility and expertise. We are talking about new investments that are necessary to attract and retain business — even in the difficult times we are currently experiencing,” said Inke Onnen-Lübben, Managing Director of Seaports of Niedersachsen GmbH, at the opening of Port Day. She pointed to numerous examples in the seaports of Lower Saxony where companies are strengthening existing markets and developing new cargo potential. These efforts are bearing fruit, as shown by the recent positive growth rates in port throughput across the port group.

The port of Brake — the economic heart of the city, a powerful driver of the entire region, and an indispensable part of global supply chains — was highlighted by Brake’s mayor Michael Kurz, who underlined the port’s significance in his welcome speech. To secure its competitiveness, however, deepening the fairway of the Lower Weser up to Brake and the rapid reconstruction of the railway bridge in Elsfleth are of the utmost urgency.

Lower Saxony’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Grant Hendrik Tonne, emphasised in his keynote address the key role that the state’s seaports play in ensuring Germany’s security of supply and economic competitiveness. As hubs for renewable energies, containers, agricultural products, vehicles, and building materials, the ports are firmly established in the market. The state has made targeted investments in recent years to make the locations fit for the future. With the start of the expansion of the offshore port of Cuxhaven and the construction of an additional major deep-sea berth in Emden by Niedersachsen Ports, important steps have been taken this year to further develop port infrastructure.

Minister Tonne: “This year, Lower Saxony is investing around 375 million euros in its seaports — a strong signal for their future viability. Of this, 200 million euros are to be invested in a new berth in Wilhelmshaven, which, together with planned federal funding, will develop into a central hub for energy carriers and industrial imports. A further 175 million euros will be invested in the modernisation, digitalisation, and climate adaptation of Niedersachsen Ports’ infrastructure. This sum is far above the regular allocation and provides the company with long-term planning security. It is crucial that the state and the federal government continue to work hand in hand on port financing so that our seaports remain the backbone for energy, industry, and trade.”

The impact of trade restrictions — such as those resulting from US tariff policy and sanctions — on the economy of the Oldenburg region and on the seaports of Lower Saxony, as well as possible future market strategies and the contribution politics can make, were topics of a panel discussion attended by Minister Grant Hendrik Tonne, Marie-Aude Boulier (Country Officer at the Oldenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce), Michael Harms (Managing Director of the German Eastern Business Association), and Jan Müller (CEO of J. Müller SE).

Marie-Aude Boulier explained that export-oriented businesses in the Oldenburg region active in trade with the USA consider US trade policy unreliable despite the current tariff agreement. Many companies fear further trade restrictions, increased bureaucracy, and heightened competitive pressure due to trade diversion from third countries into the EU. New opportunities exist in markets in South and Central America as well as Asia, and the EU internal market is gaining in importance. “The EU Commission has now formally adopted the trade agreement with Mercosur and also with Mexico,” said Boulier. “The agreement will be divided into two parts: a political and a trade part. The trade part can enter into force once it has been adopted by a qualified majority in the EU Council and additionally by a simple majority in the European Parliament. Brazil is already an important market for companies from the Oldenburg region and the northwest,” Boulier added. 

Economic Affairs Minister Grant Hendrik Tonne also sees a significant burden on the economy in Lower Saxony resulting from the tariff agreement between the EU and the United States. Nevertheless, it is important to look ahead: “We support companies in Lower Saxony entering international markets at several levels. Advisory services through our foreign representations — for example in Japan, China, South Africa, Cuba, Poland, Turkey, Scandinavia, and of course the USA — as well as the organisation of business delegations are key instruments of our foreign trade policy,” said Tonne. During a business delegation trip to Colombia in July, potential opportunities for future cooperation — for example in the energy sector — were identified. Additionally, the state government is pursuing numerous measures to reduce bureaucracy and accelerate planning procedures.

Jan Müller illustrated the impact of trade restrictions on the port industry using Brake as an example, where direct business was lost due to sanctions against Russia. Sanctions-related increases in energy costs have also put pressure on port customers such as the paper industry, which purchases pulp. He also confirmed uncertainties in business with the USA, for example in steel and timber products, from the perspective of a port operator. Changes in competition with other European ports are becoming evident, and customer structures are shifting as well. His company is focusing on stronger internationalisation: “We are closely observing growth markets — in terms of products, for example in the circular economy, but also in terms of target countries — in order to position ourselves accordingly. New free trade agreements are vital for this,” said Müller. To improve competitiveness, he hopes for political support at all levels — in energy supply, transport connections, and targeted port infrastructure expansion.

Michael Harms pointed to new opportunities for the German economy that could arise from further developing the EU internal market through the integration of candidate countries in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. In uncertain geopolitical times, “nearshoring” — shifting production and supply chains closer to Europe — is gaining importance. Raw material partnerships with Central Asian countries are also essential to reduce dependencies on industrial supply. “Companies from Germany have opportunities to build more resilient supply chains in Central and Eastern Europe and in Central Asia. The seaports of Lower Saxony can benefit from this — for example through increased short-sea shipping or the establishment of direct trade relations with raw material suppliers,” Harms explained.