Automation and portfolio adjustment impact HHLA’s results for the first nine months of the year

In the first nine months of 2026, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) faced challenging conditions and operational disruptions. The ramp-up phase for automating the Hamburg container terminals and strike-related disruptions negatively impacted container throughput growth in the third quarter. Group container throughput dropped by 7.3 percent to 4,446 thousand TEU (previously 4,798 thousand TEU), while container transport volumes rose by 0.5 percent to 1,509 thousand TEU (previously 1,501 thousand TEU).

Group revenue increased by 3.3 percent to € 1,375.1 million (previously € 1,331.4 million). Operating result (EBIT) declined by 30.7 percent to € 81.2 million (previously € 117.1 million) due to non-cash impairment charges related to the strategic focus on core business. HHLA CEO Jeroen Eijsink acknowledged progress in transformation but emphasized the need to stabilize automated processes and improve handling operations quality.

The Port Logistics subgroup saw a 3.3 percent revenue increase to € 1,346.8 million (previously € 1,303.5 million) due to price adjustments and a changed revenue mix in the Intermodal segment. However, the Container segment experienced a 34.7 percent operating result decline to € 70.2 million (previously € 107.4 million) as container throughput fell by 7.3 percent to 4,446 thousand TEU (previously 4,798 thousand TEU), largely due to terminal modernisation and geopolitical tensions.

Seaborne handling by feeders accounted for 18.9 percent of volumes (previously 19.6 percent). Despite a slight year-on-year decline in international terminal throughput to 246 thousand TEU (previously 250 thousand TEU), container segment revenue only dipped by 0.7 percent to € 637.2 million (previously € 641.8 million) due to additional storage fees and strong international terminal performance.

The Intermodal segment saw a slight volume increase, with rail transport rising by 0.6 percent to 1,308 thousand TEU. Revenue growth (7.8 percent to € 651.0 million) outpaced transport volume growth, driven by price adjustments and changed revenue mix. Rail accounted for 86.7 percent of transport volumes, matching the previous year.