China is still one of the most powerful trading nations of the world. With a volume of around 2.3 million TEUs (20 foot standard containers), it remains Hamburg’s most important trading partner for sea freight and container transport.
Port of Hamburg Marketing Association, the marketing organisation of Hamburg’s port transport industry and of Hamburg’s partner ports on the Elbe and in the region, is again this year emphasising the importance of the Chinese market with its planned attendance at two major trade fairs – transport logistic China in Shanghai and the China (Shenzhen) International Logistics and Transportation Fair 2010. At these events member companies will have copious opportunities of presenting themselves on the shared Port of Hamburg Marketing stand. Port of Hamburg Marketing is also organising special customer events and market research projects, and plans to attend several conferences in the course of the year, while its active representative offices in Hong Kong und Shanghai will be intensifying their marketing efforts in the region.
Only recently Port of Hamburg Marketing featured, along with companies from Hamburg and the Hamburg region, at the China International Logistics and Transportation Fair 2009 in Shenzhen, an event attended (according to statistics from the Shenzhen Logistics and Supply Chain Management Association) by more than 67,500 trade visitors. On the occasion of a forum on Macro Economy & Industrial Development, Port of Hamburg Marketing Chairwoman Claudia Roller spoke about recent developments in the port and its infrastructure and described the seaport to hinterland services that Hamburg offers.
The shared stand organised by Port of Hamburg Marketing was successfully used by numerous exhibitors as a platform for forging new business contacts and fostering existing customer relations.
Chairwoman Claudia Roller was delighted at the altogether positive response of those attending the event. She expressed particular satisfaction at the fact that more than 70 guests accepted the invitation to the reception at the Port of Hamburg stand. ‘In the three days of the trade fair we had more visitors to the shared Port of Hamburg stand than last year,’ she emphasised. ‘The Port of Hamburg is a well established brand in China and enjoys a very positive image for the versatility and quality of its services. For Chinese customers Hamburg’s warehousing and distribution logistics services, along with its excellent rail and feeder transport network and the many regular services between China and Germany’s biggest universal port, constitute decisive advantages. Now we must build on these strengths and put them across to the market with a well diversified range of publicity measures,’ Ms Roller concluded. Under the shared Port of Hamburg banner, the following companies took part in the Shenzhen event as an advertisement for the efficiency and flexibility of Hamburg and the Hamburg region: Brunsbüttel Ports GmbH, Buss, Eurogate GmbH & Co. KgaA KG, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), TCI International Logistics GmbH and TCO Transcargo GmbH.
On the occasion of the WORLD EXPO 2010, to be held from 1 May to 31 October this year, Hamburg’s partner city and port Shanghai will be the focus of numerous Hamburg events. In keeping with the EXPO motto, ‘Better City – Better Life’, the City of Hamburg will be presenting a passive house that meets the most ambitious standards of environmental technology, putting itself across to the Chinese public as an innovative maritime metropolis with a high quality of life. Further details about the Hamburg House can be found at http://expo2010.hamburg.de or http://en.expo2010.cn.
China will also be featuring in Hamburg itself this year. From 9 to 25 September 2010 CHINA TIME Hamburg will be taking place for the third time – an event at which the Free and Hanseatic City showcases its unrivalled qualifications as a Chinese trading partner. Detailed information on the programme of this event may be found at www.chinatimehamburg.de.
Chinese industry is picking up again. Since the first quarter of 2009 the economic output of the People’s Republic has been rising once more; Chinese industrial production has also been increasing since the middle of the year. With its nine million inhabitants, the city of Shenzhen is situated in Guangdong, China’s most industrially powerful province. The leading position of Guangdong is owing above all to its geographical position. The southern part of the province is divided in two by the Pearl River, the delta of which is a major export region for China, with a dominant industry principally geared to exports. This is one of the world’s biggest manufacturing regions for computers and computer parts, domestic entertainment and household electronics, lamps and lighting and telecommunications products. Other important industries are clothing and textiles, furniture, plastics and toys.
Along with the neighbouring ports of Hong Kong and Guangzhou, Shenzhen is one of the biggest ports in China for container shipments. Close to 60 million TEUs were handled at the port in the year 2009.
