A joint delegation from Hamburg and Lübeck visited Lithuania from March 18 to 20, 2026, to deepen maritime cooperation and enhance supply chain resilience in the Baltic Sea region. The visit, which included the German-Lithuanian Maritime Forum, focused on expanding transport corridors and shifting road freight to more sustainable ferry and rail connections. Leaders from all three port cities emphasized that robust partnerships are becoming increasingly vital for both economic stability and geopolitical security.
In 2025, the Port of Klaipėda handled approximately 39m tonnes of cargo, representing 40% of the total volume for the Baltic states, while direct container traffic with Hamburg grew by 15.4% to 142,000 TEU. The delegation highlighted that shifting more cargo from road to sea and rail could reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 70%. Currently, six ferry departures per week connect Lübeck and Klaipėda, supported by around 60 weekly intermodal connections linking the Baltic region with Central and Southern Europe.
The strategic importance of these links is further underlined by a doubling of military cargo handled in Klaipėda during 2025, reaching 56,100 tonnes. Investments in infrastructure, sustainable propulsion, and port security remain a priority to ensure the reliability of these corridors during crises. Following the forum, the partners agreed to continue their exchange with a return visit to Lübeck in April to translate these strategic discussions into concrete projects.