Daimler Truck, HHLA, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Partner to Develop Liquid Hydrogen Supply Chain via Port of Hamburg

Hamburg, Germany – October 24, 2025: Daimler Truck AG, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Hydrogen Technology World Expo in Hamburg to explore the development of a cost-effective and reliable supply chain for green liquid hydrogen (LH₂) through the Port of Hamburg to the European hinterland.

The collaboration aims to establish an import route for liquid hydrogen from producing countries to Germany, strengthening Hamburg’s role as a hub for sustainable energy logistics. Over the coming months, the partners will assess the technical and logistical requirements for transshipment and inland distribution by road and rail. The initiative also seeks to attract additional industry players and research institutions to form a broader consortium across the hydrogen value chain.

Industry Leaders Align for Hydrogen Supply Chain Development

Dr. Andreas Gorbach, Member of the Board of Management at Daimler Truck and Head of Truck Technology, 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. What makes it special is that our Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck can not only be powered by liquid green hydrogen – the truck can also transport it via road. And the best thing about it: Hydrogen allows us to increase the speed of decarbonization – and reduce the scope and cost of the already slow expansion of the power grid.”

Annette Walter, Chief Financial Officer at HHLA, added:

“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. Our goal is to reliably supply the industry with hydrogen via our European logistics network. The partnership with Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Daimler Truck is an important step toward making liquid hydrogen more widely available and jointly advancing decarbonization.”

Kei Nomura, Executive Central Manager of the Hydrogen Strategy Division at Kawasaki Heavy Industries, stated:

“Liquid hydrogen is a vital key to realizing a sustainable energy society, and we have long been committed to building the technological foundation to support it. We are very pleased to be working with HHLA and Daimler Truck to explore the feasibility of establishing an international supply chain for liquid hydrogen in Europe, starting with Hamburg. Kawasaki Heavy Industries possesses proven technologies and experience in the production, storage, transportation, and reception of liquid hydrogen. We will leverage this expertise to contribute to the development of a hydrogen supply network in Europe. Going forward, we remain committed to expanding the use of liquid hydrogen through global partnerships and accelerating the transition to a decarbonized society.”

A Step Toward Europe’s Energy Transition

The agreement highlights the growing strategic importance of liquid hydrogen in Europe’s energy transition and industrial transformation. Each partner brings distinct expertise to the collaboration:

• Kawasaki Heavy Industries contributes its experience in hydrogen infrastructure technology, including production, storage, and large-scale maritime transport of liquid hydrogen.
• HHLA provides a well-established logistics network connecting European ports and hinterlands, along with initiatives such as its Clean Ports & Logistics cluster promoting the use of fuel cells in port operations.
• Daimler Truck advances the deployment of hydrogen-powered mobility through its GenH2 Truck program and ongoing field trials with commercial operators.

Hydrogen Technology and Decarbonization Goals

Kawasaki’s hydrogen initiatives align with Japan’s national Basic Energy Plan, which envisions a hydrogen-based society. The company is developing a fleet of liquid hydrogen carriers of various sizes, including vessels capable of transporting up to 160,000 cubic meters of LH₂—comparable to modern LNG carriers.

HHLA aims to achieve climate neutrality across its group operations by 2040. Its hydrogen-focused projects include fuel-cell-powered equipment and heavy transport systems designed to reduce emissions across its logistics network.

Daimler Truck, pursuing a dual strategy of battery-electric and hydrogen-based drive systems, has been developing the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck since 2021. In 2023, the company demonstrated a 1,047-kilometer journey across Germany on a single tank of liquid hydrogen under real-world conditions. Following successful customer trials covering over 225,000 kilometers, Daimler plans to begin small-series production of 100 next-generation hydrogen semitrailer tractors at its Woerth plant in 2026, targeting broader commercialization in the early 2030s.