Business
Hamburg Delegation Visits India to Strengthen Trade and Port Cooperation
A high-level delegation from the Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg has concluded official visits in New Delhi and Mumbai, reinforcing bilateral ties and exploring new avenues for cooperation with India. The mission underscores Hamburg’s commitment to deepening economic and maritime partnerships with one of its key global trading partners.
Led by Dr. Melanie Leonhard, Hamburg’s Senator for Economic Affairs, Labour, and Innovation, the delegation held strategic discussions in New Delhi with India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways as well as Invest India. These talks took place against the backdrop of the ongoing Free Trade Agreement negotiations between the European Union and India, with the Hamburg Senate emphasizing the critical role of diversified trade relations.
The delegation featured prominent leaders from Hamburg’s maritime sector, including Jens Meier, CEO of the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and President of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), and Hendrik Meyn, CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing. They were joined by senior representatives from the city’s maritime industry.
Focus on Sustainable Port Development
In Mumbai, the delegation engaged in high-level talks with the Mumbai Port Authority, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, the Indian Ports Association, and the IAPH’s regional representation. The discussions centered on the shared goal of climate-neutral port development.
Hamburg shared its extensive expertise in developing shore power facilities, a key technology for reducing emissions from vessels at berth. The dialogue also explored the future of port infrastructure, focusing on enhancing capacity, resilience, and long-term strategic planning. This included the transformation of existing port areas and the development of modern cruise terminals to accommodate future growth.
Record-Breaking Cargo Volumes with India
The visit comes at a time of remarkable growth in trade between Hamburg and India. In 2025, the Port of Hamburg achieved a new record in direct container throughput with India, handling approximately 290,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). This represents a surge of nearly 50 percent compared to the previous year, underscoring the dynamic expansion of trade with the subcontinent.
India now ranks as the Port of Hamburg’s sixth most important partner country in seaborne container traffic.
“This new volume record clearly demonstrates the dynamic development of our trade with India,” said Hendrik Meyn, CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing. “Our delegation visit is a further building block intended to generate additional momentum for cargo flows, investment, and logistics partnerships.”
The Port of Hamburg currently maintains direct connections to India through twelve liner services, including six container lines, three RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) services, and three conventional general cargo services capable of handling heavy-lift project cargo. These services link the German metropolis directly with key Indian ports, including Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Mumbai, Chennai, Ennore, and Hazira.
