Daimler Truck, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and the Port of Hamburg have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to assess the feasibility of developing a reliable and cost-effective supply chain for green liquid hydrogen through the Port of Hamburg to the European hinterland. The initiative aims to establish Hamburg as a key hub for hydrogen imports from producing countries.
Under the agreement, the partners will evaluate logistics infrastructure for hydrogen transshipment and onward distribution by road and rail. They also plan to involve additional companies and institutions to create a consortium covering the full hydrogen value chain. Daimler Truck board member Andreas Gorbach said, “Europe will continue to rely on green energy imports in the future and hydrogen will play a key role here. The partnership is an important step in this direction, and we will need more initiatives like this to strengthen Europe’s position as a leader in liquid hydrogen.”
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Daimler Truck’s Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck is expected to play a central role in the project. The hydrogen-powered truck, which can also transport liquid hydrogen, is currently in testing. Small-series production of around 100 units is scheduled to start in late 2026, with mass production planned for the early 2030s. Gorbach noted that hydrogen technology helps accelerate decarbonization and reduces the cost and scope of power grid expansion.
Annette Walter, CFO of Hamburg port operator HHLA, said, “Hydrogen is one of the keys to a climate-neutral future – and we at HHLA are committed to actively shaping this transformation. Liquid hydrogen plays a central role in this, as it can be transported independently of pipelines – a decisive advantage for mobility, logistics, aviation, and especially for small and medium-sized companies.”
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Each partner brings distinct expertise to the collaboration: HHLA as a European logistics provider, Daimler Truck as a leader in zero-emission commercial vehicles, and Kawasaki as a pioneer in hydrogen infrastructure technology. Kawasaki is already developing large-scale liquid hydrogen carriers capable of transporting up to 160,000 cubic meters of liquid hydrogen, aligning with Japan’s global hydrogen supply chain strategy. HHLA, meanwhile, aims to achieve full climate neutrality by 2040 and is testing hydrogen-powered equipment at the Port of Hamburg through its Clean Port & Logistics innovation cluster.
