DE Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
German UN/LOCODE entries begin with the ISO country prefix DE followed by a three-character location designator. For example, DEHAM identifies Hamburg and DEWVN identifies Wilhelmshaven.
Seaports in Germany: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Germany has 227 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database and serves as a major North Sea and Baltic gateway for European manufacturing, distribution and multimodal freight.
Explore German seaport codes, inland-waterway hubs, regional freight clusters and indicative trade-lane options for international shipping.
Germany Port Overview
Germany combines deep-water North Sea gateways, Baltic ports and extensive inland-waterway terminals. Indexed coverage includes seaports, river ports, logistics hubs and terminal locations; it is therefore broader than a league table of container seaports.
227
Germany ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
~274m
German maritime cargo handled in 2025, approximately; YoY change subject to final official consolidation
Destatis · 2025 provisional context
~15.0m
Container throughput in 2025, approximately; YoY change generally positive versus 2024
German port and operator releases · 2025
—
National berth count with a consistently comparable 2025 definition; YoY change not consolidated
Federal maritime statistics · 2025 methodology note
How many seaports does Germany have?
Germany has 227 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight as of the Nov 2026 database snapshot. This first-party count includes maritime, inland-waterway and logistics locations in the country code catalogue.
What is Germany's largest container port?
Hamburg, UN/LOCODE DEHAM, is Germany's largest container port and a principal North European gateway. Bremerhaven, including the DEBHN and DEBRV records in the database, is another major container gateway.
Which regions handle the most freight in Germany?
The North Sea cluster around Hamburg, Bremen, Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven handles the country's principal deep-sea flows, while the Rhine and inland-waterway network connects cargo with Duisburg, Mannheim, Neuss and other industrial centres.
Top Ports in Germany by Container and Freight Activity
The table highlights leading German freight gateways and selected active port locations from the Ecer Freight sample. Throughput figures are indicative 2025 public-market figures and should be confirmed with the relevant port authority or terminal before commercial use.
Selected Germany freight ports, 2025 indicative throughput
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ~20 | Hamburg | DEHAM | ~8.3 | +3.0% | North Sea |
| ~40 | Bremerhaven | DEBHN | ~4.5 | +5.0% | North Sea |
| — | Wilhelmshaven | DEWVN | ~1.0 | +15.0% | North Sea |
| — | Bremen | DEBRE | — | — | North Sea and Weser |
| — | Rostock | DERSK | — | — | Baltic Sea |
| — | Lubeck | DELBC | — | — | Baltic Sea |
Germany Port Regions and Freight Clusters
German port activity is distributed across maritime gateways and inland corridors. Port roles below follow the supplied Ecer Freight records and distinguish coastal gateways from inland logistics locations.
North Sea Gateway
The North Sea cluster provides Germany's principal deep-sea container, vehicle, project-cargo and energy interfaces.
North Sea ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamburg | DEHAM | Hamburg | Container, general cargo and feeder freight |
| Bremerhaven | DEBHN | Bremerhaven | Containers, automobiles and RoRo |
| Bremen | DEBRE | Bremen | General cargo, project cargo and inland distribution |
| Wilhelmshaven | DEWVN | Wilhelmshaven | Deep-water containers, energy and bulk cargo |
| Bremerhaven | DEBRV | Bremerhaven | Port and terminal record for container and RoRo flows |
Baltic Sea Cluster
Baltic gateways support short-sea shipping, ferry services, regional distribution and links with Scandinavia and the eastern Baltic.
Baltic Sea ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rostock | DERSK | Rostock | RoRo, ferry, bulk and regional cargo |
| Flensburg | DEFLE | Flensburg | Regional Baltic and short-sea freight |
| Kiel | DEKIL | Kiel | Ferry, RoRo and Baltic short-sea services |
| Kiel | DEKEL | Kiel | Port and terminal record for regional freight |
| Lubeck | DELBC | Lubeck | RoRo, ferry and Baltic general cargo |
Rhine and Inland-Waterway Corridor
The Rhine, Main and connected canal system links German industrial centres to seaports and European distribution markets.
Rhine and inland logistics locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duisburg | DEDUI | Duisburg | Inland container, steel, coal and multimodal cargo |
| Neuss | DENUS | Neuss | Rhine container, bulk and industrial distribution |
| Cologne | DECOL | Cologne | Rhine containers, chemicals and general cargo |
| Mainz | DEMAI | Mainz | Rhine and Main general cargo distribution |
| Mannheim | DEMHM | Mannheim | Industrial, container and bulk cargo |
| Ludwigshafen | DELUW | Ludwigshafen Am Rhein | Chemicals, liquid bulk and industrial cargo |
| Karlsruhe | DEKAR | Karlsruhe | Rhine bulk, energy and industrial cargo |
Central and Southern Distribution Hubs
Inland locations around the Main, Danube and major rail-road corridors support customs clearance, consolidation and last-mile distribution from Germany's seaports.
Central and southern freight locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt | DEFRA | Frankfurt | Main logistics, air-sea and distribution hub |
| Leipzig | DELEI | Leipzig | Rail-road distribution and central European logistics |
| Regensburg | DEREG | Regensburg | Danube and industrial inland cargo |
| Nuernberg | DENUE | Nurnberg | Canal, rail and regional distribution cargo |
| Ingolstadt | DEING | Ingolstadt | Automotive and inland industrial logistics |
Germany Port Codes and UN/LOCODE Structure
UN/LOCODE identifiers help carriers, forwarders, customs systems and transport platforms distinguish locations used in shipping documentation.
City-Level and Terminal-Level Records
A city-level record may represent a wider logistics area, while another record can identify a specific port, terminal or operational location. Similar names should therefore be checked against the exact code before booking.
How to Verify a Germany Port Code
Compare the code with the UNECE UN/LOCODE reference and the Ecer Freight Port Codes directory. Confirm the terminal, city, cargo mode and carrier acceptance before issuing shipping instructions.
Shipping from Germany: Main Trade Lanes
Indicative routing information reflects common ocean-freight patterns. Transit times vary with the carrier, service string, transshipment, equipment availability, customs processing and seasonal congestion.
Germany to East Asia
Deep-sea container services from North Sea gateways connect German exporters and importers with major Asian manufacturing and consumer markets.
Germany to North America
Transatlantic services carry machinery, automotive products, chemicals, consumer goods and project cargo between Germany and North American markets.
Germany to Mediterranean and Middle East
North Sea gateways feed Mediterranean services and onward connections to the Middle East, with routing dependent on the carrier network and transshipment hub.
Germany to Northern Europe and the Baltic
Short-sea, feeder and RoRo networks connect Germany with Scandinavia, the Baltic region and nearby European distribution markets.
Germany Port Data Methodology and Sources
The page separates first-party indexed coverage from official or publicly reported throughput. Port records and commercial routing details can change, so operational decisions should use the exact terminal and current carrier schedule.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — 227 Germany port and terminal records indexed in the Nov 2026 snapshot.
- Federal Statistical Office of Germany — national maritime and inland transport statistics, where comparable annual definitions are available.
- Hamburg Port Authority — Hamburg port infrastructure, operations and official port information.
- bremenports — Bremen and Bremerhaven port information and operating context.
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference framework.
Germany Port FAQ
How many seaports does Germany have?
Germany has 227 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure is an indexed coverage count and is not a claim that all records are deep-water container seaports.
What is the largest port in Germany?
Hamburg is generally regarded as Germany's largest container and multipurpose port. Its Ecer Freight UN/LOCODE is DEHAM.
What are the main container ports in Germany?
Hamburg and Bremerhaven are the principal container gateways, while Wilhelmshaven is an important deep-water container and energy port. Relevant indexed codes include DEHAM, DEBHN and DEWVN.
Which German port regions serve international freight?
The North Sea gateways around Hamburg, Bremen, Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven handle the main deep-sea flows. Baltic locations such as Rostock and Lubeck support short-sea and ferry networks, while Rhine hubs connect inland cargo with maritime gateways.
How do Germany port codes work?
Germany uses the DE country prefix in UN/LOCODEs followed by a three-character location identifier. The exact record should be checked because one city can have multiple port or terminal entries.
How current is the Germany port data?
The indexed database snapshot is dated Nov 2026. Throughput references use the latest complete or publicly available 2025 context where possible, while schedules, port calls and rates remain subject to confirmation.
How can a shipper request Germany sea-freight rates?
Shippers can compare indicative FCL or LCL options through the relevant rate pages. A quotation normally requires origin and destination, cargo description, container or package details, weight, trade terms and expected shipping date.
Editorially reviewed for the 2026 Germany port guide using the Ecer Freight database snapshot dated Nov 2026, publicly available 2025 port and transport information, and UN/LOCODE reference principles. Port coverage is refreshed as records change, while statistical indicators are reviewed against newly released official or port-authority data.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Germany: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact