Industrial ports as an investment location for real estate
Heavy cargo expertise, handling strength and trimodal connections
The industrial ports in Bremen combine a specialized port ecosystem for general cargo, heavy cargo and bulk goods with direct connections to road, rail and waterways - a foundation for mixed-use, logistics-related real estate strategies. The location is part of Bremen's universal ports, which recorded seaborne cargo throughput of 61.9 million tons in 2024 (+5.9% YoY) and thus underpinned their competitiveness in North-West Europe. As a hub for breakbulk logistics, the port of Neustadt plays a central role with a quay length of around 2.4 km, a water depth of up to 11 m and around 2 million tons of annual throughput - including project cargo, steel/forestry products and heavy cargo via floating crane.
Micro-location advantages: Neustädter Hafen, industrial port and GVZ network
The combination of the industrial port, Neustädter Hafen and the neighboring GVZ Bremen (No. 1 in Germany, ranked No. 2 in Europe) ensures short distances, high frequency and reliable accessibility for production, trade and logistics - ideal conditions for commercial and portfolio developments. Europe's largest breakbulk terminal in Neustädter Hafen handles around 1.4 million tons of general and heavy cargo annually on 100 hectares, 240,000 m² of which are covered, and is integrated into liner and charter services worldwide - a visibility and demand anchor for second-tier port-related space. The Bremen Industrial Park with approx. 140ha, around 50 companies and around 5,230 employees benefits from A281/A27 connectivity and proximity to two industrial port terminals for general cargo, bulk and containers - a plus for tenant diversification and re-letting.
Future impetus and ESG levers: capacity, industry breadth and qualification
The ports of Bremen/Bremerhaven secure up to 40,000 jobs directly/indirectly and increased container and total throughput in particular in 2024, which supports location resilience and demand for space. Breakbulk specialization (project cargo, steel/forestry, onshore wind components) and extensive terminal certifications (ISO 9001/14001/45001) promote stable logistics chains and quality standards - an advantage for investor-driven ESG upgrades in portfolios. For core profiles, leased properties close to the port and GVZ with trimodal connections are ideal, while value-add via energy efficiency, insulation/windows, PV retrofitting and repositioning of space raises the energy parameters and exit prospects - flanked by the continuing flow of goods in the port network and the industrial/logistics sector.
Standard land values for industrial ports
The standard land values for industrial ports can be found in the standard land values for Bremen here.