After two years without an increase, the Ports of Bremen will rise charges by 2%, effective from 1 January 2022, following the approval by the Port Committee of Bremen’s Parliament earlier in November.
The port charges are public-law fees and therefore, in accordance with European Union’s legislation, they have to be transparent and in line with normal market rates.
The last tonnage charges in the German ports that took effect in January of 2019, were increased by an average of 2%, as well.
“In view of the poor economic forecasts, the forthcoming Brexit and the trade conflict between the US and China, no increases were resolved during 2020, nor have the charges been raised since then,” explained a Bremenports’ representative.
“The greater part of the port charges is used to finance the cost of creating, maintaining and repairing the ports of Bremen and thus keeping them competitive in relation to other ports,” explained Claudia Schilling, senator for Science and Ports.
Regarding the future, Schilling said that over the next two years, “we have earmarked 56.4€ million (US$63.7 million) for investments in the ports plus another 58.3€ million (US$65.9 million) for their maintenance.”
“The present increase is moderate and, in view of the sharp rise in cargo throughput at the port, reasonable for our customers,” claimed the senator.
