An official delegation from the Port of Hamburg visited India to deepen partnerships and expand dialogue with port and government agencies in Chennai, Mumbai, and New Delhi. The visit was led by Senator for Economic Affairs, Labor, and Innovation Melanie Leonhard and included representatives from the port and maritime industries, including the management of the Hamburg Port Authority and Port of Hamburg Marketing. During discussions with Indian agencies, the parties emphasized India’s growing role as a key trading partner for the EU and the importance of diversifying foreign trade.
One of the central topics was the sustainability of port infrastructure and the development of climate-neutral ports. Meetings with the Mumbai Port Authority and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority discussed exchanging experiences in decarbonization, including the implementation of shore-based power. At the event “Ports in Conversation – Hamburg meets Mumbai,” experts discussed future port capacity, port sustainability, and coastal transformation, as well as the development of cruise infrastructure.
India is already one of the Port of Hamburg’s most important trading partners. From 2020 to 2024, direct container throughput increased by 21%, and in 2025, the country ranked sixth among key partners for maritime container shipping. Direct trade volume reached a record 290,000 TEU, an increase of almost 50% year-on-year. The port is connected to India by twelve regular services, including container, RoRo, and general cargo lines, providing direct connections to major Indian ports and further expanding logistics cooperation.