The nine Lower Saxony seaports Brake, Cuxhaven, Emden, Leer, Nordenham, Oldenburg, Papenburg, Stade and Wilhelmshaven increased their total volume in sea freight in the first half of 2025. According to Seaports of Niedersachsen GmbH, 27.7 million tonnes were handled, representing a four percent increase compared with the same period of the previous year.
Growth in Containers and General Cargo
Container throughput reached 664,685 units. This means the amount doubled compared with the first half of 2024. Throughput of non-containerized general cargo rose by eleven percent to 3.7 million tonnes. This development is, according to the port group, mainly due to project shipments from the wind energy sector as well as to the transport of iron and steel
products. Vehicle throughput amounted to 844,826 new cars, and was therefore three percent above the previous year's value.
Development at individual locations
In the port Brake throughput rose by 13 percent to nearly 2.8 million tonnes. Agricultural products as well as iron, steel and forest products contributed to this result.
Cuxhaven recorded an increase of 61 percent to around 1.8 million tonnes. Key were components for wind energy, vehicles and building materials. The automotive throughput reached 195,280 vehicles, a 16 percent increase.
In Emden throughput rose by twelve percent to nearly 2.4 million tonnes. In addition to timber products and parts for wind turbines, volumes of solid bulk goods such as construction materials and chemical raw materials
also grew. The vehicle throughput stood at 611,411 units, at the previous year's level.
Leer reported a volume of around 93,000 tonnes in combined sea- and inland shipping traffic. This corresponds to a decrease of ten percent, as parts of the goods were shifted to rail.
Nordenham reached just over one million tonnes, i.e., eight percent less than in the first half of 2024. Missing volumes in coal throughput had a negative effect here, while liquid goods and general cargo remained stable.
Oldenburg remained without seagoing traffic as a result of the railway bridge in Elsfleth, damaged since February 2024. Throughput in inland shipping was 375,537 tonnes, at the previous year's level. The bridge is to be
rebuilt by 2028 to once again allow seagoing ships to the port.
In Papenburg the volume in sea transport increased by two percent to 324,470 tonnes. In inland shipping, volumes rose by 41 percent to nearly 114,000 tonnes.
The port Stade reached 2.6 million tonnes, a decline of six percent. While liquid bulk goods rose by five percent to around 1.1 million tonnes, the solid bulk goods fell.
Wilhelmshaven doubled container throughput to 664,685 units. Overall, the site remained at the previous year's level with 16.7 million tonnes. Crude oil throughput decreased by 28 percent to 7.4 million tonnes. Coal, however, rose by 32 percent to around 950,000 tonnes. Vehicle throughput grew by 40 percent to 38,135
