PRESS RELEASE

Seaborne cargo throughput grows by 6 % to around 54.45 million tonnes in 2022

Oldenburg, 27 March 2023 | The increase in the nine seaports of Brake, Cuxhaven, Emden, Leer, Nordenham, Oldenburg, Papenburg, Stade and Wilhelmshaven in Niedersachsen in 2022 was primarily characterised by strong developments in the area of solid bulk goods such as coal but also general cargo such as iron, steel and forestry products. With a good 54 million tonnes, a total of around 6 percent more goods passed through the quaysides in 2022 than in 2021.

To secure Germany's energy supply, coal celebrated a comeback as an energy source. This resulted in the handling of solid bulk goods in 2022 increasing by 24% to 14.99 million tonnes (2021: 12.14 million). Liquid bulk saw an increase of 2% (25.88 million tonnes in 2022 / 25.44 million tonnes in 2021). The handling of crude oil contributed to the positive result here. In the general cargo segment (incl. RoRo and containers), throughput amounted to around 13.57 million tonnes (-2 % / 13.84 million tonnes in 2021). In this cargo segment, the handling of forest products and new vehicles recorded a significant increase, while the handling of containers was below the level of 2021. At 683,403 standard containers (TEU), the volume handled at EUROGATE Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven fell by 4.1 percent. The handling of around 1.43 million new vehicles resulted in an increase of just under 12 percent compared to 2021 (1.27 million).

"The seaborne cargo turnover in 2022 is the best result since the global financial crisis in 2008. In addition to all the challenges, such as the tense global economic situation, corona-related restrictions due to lockdowns, the energy crisis and supply chain problems, areas in the general cargo sector and solid bulk cargo developed significantly positively. We also see the seaports of Niedersachsen as well positioned and indispensable as a universal port group with regard to the energy turnaround," explains André Heim, Managing Director of the port marketing company Seaports of Niedersachsen GmbH.

In 2022, the seaport of Brake recorded a handling volume of 6.85 million tonnes (+33 % / 5.14 million tonnes in 2021). In general cargo handling, the annual result from 2021 (2.20 million tonnes) was exceeded by 27 % with around 2.81 million tonnes. Among other things, increased volumes of iron, steel, pulp and wood contributed to this. The solid bulk cargo sector, at 3.45 million tonnes in 2022, is around 35% above the level of the comparable period (2.54 million tonnes in 2021). In particular, the handling of grain and animal feed contributed to this result.

Around 2.49 million tonnes of goods were handled in maritime transport in Cuxhaven last year (+1.75 % / 2.45 million tonnes in 2021). With 319,232 vehicles handled in 2022, the volume of new vehicles handled is around 8 % higher than the previous year (295,644 vehicles in 2021). In the seaward handling of general cargo, which in the port of Cuxhaven includes e.g. wood, the location has a volume of around 1.04 million tonnes (+10 % / 0.94 million tonnes in 2021). At 592,208 tonnes, solid bulk cargo is 9 % below the previous year's level (653,919 tonnes).

The port of Emden records a seaborne cargo turnover of around 4.28 million tonnes in 2022 (+6 % / 4.03 million tonnes in 2021). The handling of general cargo developed positively (+9 % / 2.56 million tonnes in 2022 / 2.34 million tonnes in 2021), here predominantly the shipment of forestry products such as timber and that of new vehicles. The new vehicle transshipment of 1.11 million vehicles is about 14 % in 2022 above the level of the comparison period (0.98 million vehicles in 2021). Wind turbine transshipments almost doubled compared to the previous year, while liquid bulk goods exceeded last year's result by 2 %.

In 2022, the port of Leer handled 6,626 tonnes in maritime traffic. The throughput decreased by around 80 % (34,434 tonnes in maritime traffic in 2021). Due to reduced depths in the approach to the port of Leer, only 3 seagoing vessels moored in 2022. The war in Ukraine and the interruptions to supply chains also had a negative impact on the result. In combined sea and inland transport, 212,163 tonnes of goods were moved in Leer, compared to 313,328 tonnes in the same period last year. Scrap metal, gravel, chippings and peat were handled most frequently in the seaport of Leer. An increase in maritime transport is forecast for this year.

In Nordenham, the seaward transshipment result amounted to around 2.71 million tonnes (+18 % / 2.30 million tonnes in 2021). Increasing volumes of coal in particular contributed to this (+55 % / 1.69 million tonnes in 2022 / 1.09 million tonnes in 2021). Due to the energy crisis, the operating times of German coal-fired power plants were increased again, which led to an increase in coal handling. In addition, the transhipment volume of liquid bulk goods increased, here significantly that of mineral oil products. For the year 2023, stable handling figures are expected in the coal sector and increases in general cargo handling.

The Port of Oldenburg recorded a handling increase of almost 26% in seaborne traffic (97,189 tonnes in 2022 / 77,329 tonnes in 2021). The new turning point has improved the accessibility of the Port of Oldenburg for seagoing vessels and had a positive effect on the handling result. The transhipment result in combined sea and inland traffic was around 0.80 million tonnes in 2022 (0.88 million tonnes in 2021). The main goods handled again included products from agriculture and forestry. The Oldenburg port industry is looking positively ahead and expects a stable handling level for 2023

In 2022, 602,329 tonnes were handled in seaborne freight traffic in the seaport of Papenburg (-3.6% / 624,818 tonnes in 2021). The seaport location thus remains at a good handling level. In combined maritime and inland transport, transshipments amounted to 736,826 tonnes (748,947 tonnes in 2021). Decreases were registered in the handling of wood waste and peat and a significant increase in the handling of rubber waste. For 2023, an increase in transshipments is expected in the area of building materials due to investments in infrastructure.

The port balance in Stade is negative with a throughput of 5.1 million tonnes in maritime traffic (5.9 million tonnes in 2021). The volume of solid bulk cargo handled fell by 4 % to around 3.28 million tonnes (3.43 million tonnes in 2021). A decline of 27% to 1.81 million tonnes (2.47 million tonnes in 2021) was registered in the transshipment of chemical products. In the course of the energy crisis, combined with increased costs for natural gas, the energy-intensive industry in particular drastically curtailed its production.

The seaport of Wilhelmshaven once again achieved a very stable result with a handling volume of 32.29 million tonnes in 2022 (+5 % / 30.84 million tonnes in 2021). This is supported by significant increases in solid bulk cargo, especially coal. Compared to the previous year, this value doubled (+99 % / 3.15 million tonnes in 2022 / 1.58 million tonnes in 2021). In general cargo handling, a total of around 5.99 million tonnes was recorded (-16 % / 7.13 million tonnes in 2021). The decline in container handling is reflected here (-16% / 5.97 million tonnes in 2022 / 7.12 million tonnes in 2021). The area with the highest throughput continues to be liquid bulk goods, which were at a constantly high level of 22.5 million tonnes in 2022 (21.64 million tonnes in 2021).

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Michaela Stolper