HHLA achieves growth despite setbacks

Group revenue increased by 9.9% to €1,756.2 million, while EBIT rose 19.5% to €160.5 million.

Container throughput expanded by 5.4% year-on-year to 6,295 thousand teu and intermodal transport volumes climbed 10.9% to 1,982 thousand teu. However, profit after tax and minority interests fell to €9.8 million, heavily impacted by one-off tax effects.

“We succeeded in achieving operational growth in 2025 despite a challenging market environment,” said HHLA chief executive Jeroen Eijsink.

“We will consistently work towards continuing this trend in 2026. To do so, we are emphasising reliability, efficiency and sustainability and offering our clients an integrated range of services, from the seaport terminals to services deep into the European hinterland.”

The Port Logistics subgroup contributed significantly to the group’s growth, with revenue up 10.1% to €1,718.8 million and EBIT rising 22.8% to €144.7 million. Volume growth drove performance across container handling and transport, despite ongoing modernisation projects and supply chain pressures.

The Container segment saw a 5.4% increase in throughput, with Hamburg terminals handling 5,956 thousand teu, and international terminals reporting a 19.2% rise in volume to 339 thousand teu.

The Intermodal segment recorded a 10.9% increase in container transport, with rail volumes rising 11.2% to 1,719 thousand teu. Revenue growth outpaced volume growth, reaching €797 million, supported by higher rail share and necessary price adjustments. EBIT climbed 23.9% to €103.7 million, reflecting strong transport volumes despite operational challenges from construction projects and high-capacity utilisation.

The Real Estate subgroup remained largely stable, with revenue of €46.3 million and EBIT of €15.4 million, affected by one-off third-quarter expenses. In light of tax impacts, HHLA’s Executive and Supervisory Boards recommended no dividend for the 2025 financial year.

Looking ahead, HHLA expects further growth in 2026, targeting group EBIT between €175 million and €195 million and capital expenditure of €430–480 million, with the majority allocated to the Port Logistics subgroup.