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Cargo Handling in Germany Industry Data and Analysis
The growth of online retail is increasing the number of international shipments and driving demand for freight handling services. Service providers that transfer goods between ships, trains and lorries, or offer complementary services such as warehousing, load securing and internal transport, are benefiting in particular. Additional transhipment volumes are arising primarily at seaports, freight hubs and intermodal terminals. Rising energy prices, fluctuating freight volumes and uncertain supply chains are increasing the cost and capacity utilisation risks for shippers. Under these conditions, companies are more likely to outsource handling services to external service providers rather than maintaining their own permanent staff, equipment and storage space. External providers can make staff, equipment and space available at short notice, thereby facilitating adaptation to fluctuating transport volumes. The Port of Hamburg illustrates how shifting trade flows can affect container handling. In the first half of 2026, container handling fell to around four million standard containers compared with the same period the previous year. Declines in trade with the USA, China and the United Kingdom outweighed the rising volumes in trade with Singapore, Finland, India and Morocco. The port’s total cargo throughput also fell. In addition to changes in foreign trade, operational factors limited handling capacities at the Port of Hamburg. A weak start to the year due to weather conditions, as well as refurbishment and automation measures at HHLA’s container terminals, hampered handling operations. Furthermore, the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz and security risks in the Red Sea disrupted maritime connections. Shipping companies had to adjust their routes, which led to longer transit times and made it more difficult to plan vessel arrivals. IBISWorld forecasts revenue growth of 1.2 per cent to 5.6 billion euros by 2026. Between 2021 and 2026, the sector’s turnover grew by an average of 6.3 per cent per year.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Cargo Handling industry in Germany includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released September 2026.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Cargo Handling industry in Germany operates under the WZ industry code H52.24DE. The cargo handling sector is dedicated to the loading and unloading of various modes of transport. The goods transported in this way may be contained in a container or overpack, or may simply be packed, for example in sacks. Consequently, stowage is also one of the tasks carried out by operators in the sector. The handling of passenger luggage at airports or railway stations also falls within their remit. Related terms covered in the Cargo Handling industry in Germany include intermodal transport, container bridge and customs office.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Cargo Handling industry in Germany include Cargo handling at ports, Cargo handling at airports and Freight handling at freight terminals.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Cargo Handling industry in Germany include Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG, Eurogate GmbH & Co. KGaA, KG and North Sea Terminal Bremerhaven GmbH & Co.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Cargo Handling industry in Germany.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Cargo Handling industry in Germany.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Cargo Handling industry in Germany.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Cargo Handling industry in Germany. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Cargo Handling industry in Germany. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Cargo Handling industry in Germany. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Cargo Handling industry in Germany. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Cargo Handling industry in Germany.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Cargo Handling industry in Germany in 2026?
The market size of the Cargo Handling industry in Germany is €5.3bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Cargo Handling industry in Germany in 2026?
There are 437 businesses in the Cargo Handling industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.1 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Cargo Handling industry in Germany?
The Cargo Handling industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Cargo Handling industry in Germany?
The Cargo Handling industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Cargo Handling industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Cargo Handling industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 8.3 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Cargo Handling industry in Germany over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Cargo Handling industry in Germany is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Cargo Handling industry in Germany?
The biggest companies operating in the Cargo Handling industry in Germany are Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG, Eurogate GmbH & Co. KGaA, KG and North Sea Terminal Bremerhaven GmbH & Co.
What does the Cargo Handling industry in Germany include?
Loading and unloading various modes of transport and Stevedoring are part of the Cargo Handling industry in Germany.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Cargo Handling industry in Germany?
The company holding the most market share in the Cargo Handling industry in Germany is Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG.
How competitive is the Cargo Handling industry in Germany?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Cargo Handling industry in Germany.
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