Another major construction project has been completed at the Port of Grenaa.
A new warehouse has been officially inaugurated in the presence of customers, partners, and local suppliers, all of whom helped make this new project a reality.
The warehouse, which measures 30 by 65 meters, was built in five months and is part of a larger expansion of the port’s storage and warehouse facilities.
CCO Theis Gisselbæk delivers the opening remarks.
“It’s great to celebrate when we, together with our excellent partners, successfully complete the projects we set out to do. This means we can deliver a product that our customers need. It also shows that we are committed to growth and constantly doing our best to find new opportunities,” said CCO Theis Gisselbæk at the inauguration.
Strong local collaboration
Several local businesses and partners have been involved in the project—including the carpentry firm Henrik Hedeager and the architectural firm Arkikon.
“We’re thrilled that the port has chosen to buy locally. We’ve built several structures at the port over the past ten years, and this is the tenth building we’re helping to construct,” says master carpenter Henrik Hedeager.
The construction project faced challenges such as frost and strong winds, but the foundation work was completed before the winter weather set in.
Arkikon is also pleased with the developments at the harbor:
“It’s exciting because there’s so much going on at the Port of Grenaa right now. The port has a lot of great projects underway, and we’re working closely together on them,” says structural engineer Eva Hard.
From left: Henrik Hedeager, Klaus Jakobsen, Theis Gisselbæk, and Eva Hard.
Bigadan Sourcing & Trading has already begun using the warehouse to store bulk goods for biogas production.
The new warehouse is just the beginning.
The Port of Grenaa has already signed a contract for two additional new warehouses, which are expected to be completed in 2026. At the same time, plans are underway for a new industrial park covering approximately 60,000 square meters, with space for six to eight large warehouses in the coming years.
The expansion is intended to meet the growing demand for modern storage capacity that complies with stricter environmental and emergency preparedness requirements for the storage of, for example, building materials, industrial products, and recycled raw materials.
Thank you to all our partners and local businesses who have helped bring yet another project to a successful conclusion.
Henrik Hedeager Carpentry
Arkikon
Apro Denmark
Rasmus Jakobsen Construction and Contracting Company
Port of Grenaa solid and satisfactory financial results for 2025, confirming a healthy and robust core business. Revenue totaled DKK 86.7 million, while profit after tax for the year amounted to DKK 9.4 million. The results were presented on Monday, April 27, 2026, at Port of Grenaa’s annual general meeting.
“Following an exceptional 2024, it is very satisfying that we are maintaining a high level of activity in 2025 and delivering solid results. This confirms that our business rests on a strong and stable foundation. It is important to note that the record result for 2024 was influenced, among other things, by a one-time extraordinary revenue item,” says Bent Hansen, Chairman of the Board at Port of Grenaa.
He also points out that this result was achieved during a period marked by geopolitical uncertainty and stricter requirements for both operations and resilience.
“We operate in a market characterized by greater unpredictability. That is precisely why it is important that we remain financially strong and run our business in a responsible and thoughtful manner,” he adds.
High Activity and Major Investments 2025 has been marked by high activity across the port’s business areas, with the bulk sector in particular contributing positively through increased activity throughout the year.
Henrik Carstensen, director of Port of Grenaa, also highlights significant investments made during the year:
“In 2025, we completed the largest machinery investment in the port’s history with the arrival of our new Mantsinen crane. It boosts both our capacity and efficiency while supporting our green transition through the crane’s dual-power solution.”
In addition, there has been ongoing investment in the maintenance and development of the port’s physical infrastructure—initiatives that are essential for ensuring stable operations and maintaining competitiveness.
“Our sound financial position allows us to continuously develop and maintain the port area. This is essential for ensuring stable operations and enabling us to be a strong partner for our customers,” explains Henrik Carstensen.
Strategy for 2030 Sets the Course 2025 has also been an important strategic year for the Port of Grenaa. A new corporate strategy for 2030 was approved in November and sets a clear course for the port’s development.
“We are in a strong position and have set a clear course for the coming years. Our ambition remains to be a leader in bulk, recycling, and resource management, and we expect increased activity in offshore wind in the coming years,” says Chairman of the Board Bent Hansen, adding:
“We have a clear goal of delivering an even stronger port by 2030. This requires us to evolve—through partnerships, green transition, and new business areas. At the same time, we want to strengthen our role as a regional driving force—including through the development of our subsidiaries Sydhavnen and Anholt Port for the benefit of the business community, the local area, and tourism.”
In 2025, the Port of Grenaa was once again recertified under ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 without any nonconformities, underscoring its continued focus on quality, the environment, and occupational health and safety. ESG and sustainability are integrated into both daily operations and long-term development.
Demand is straining capacity At the same time, the continued high level of activity means that the Port of Grenaa is experiencing such high demand that capacity is under pressure—particularly in terms of space.
“We are seeing growing demand and significant potential—particularly in offshore wind and green energy. That is why we are working hard to secure new areas outside the existing port area,” says Henrik Carstensen.
He also points to a general trend in the industry toward more strategic collaborations and partnerships between ports.
Optimism and Expectations for 2026 Grenaa Port expects activity to remain high in 2026 and anticipates a solid financial result, even though the world is marked by uncertainty that may make it difficult to predict major projects.
“We continue to budget conservatively, but see good opportunities in the market. With a strong foundation, talented employees, and close relationships with customers and partners, we are well-positioned for future growth,” concludes Chairman of the Board Bent Hansen.
In 2025, the Port of Grenaa also celebrated its 25th anniversary as a public limited company—an event that brought together residents, partners, and stakeholders and underscored the port’s importance to the local community and the municipality.
Composition of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the Port of Grenaa consists of a total of nine members:
Three owner representatives appointed by the municipal council of Norddjurs Municipality
Five members with a master's degree in business administration
One member has been nominated by the Trade Union Confederation (FH) of East Jutland
Following the annual general meeting, the board of directors consists of:
Bent Hansen, Chairman, Business Insight
Laura Hay Uggla, Vice Chair, Business Insights
Jørgen O. M. Laursen, business acumen
Lene S. Sørensen, Business Insight
Jens Meilvang, business insight
Daniel Isak Dallerup, FH East Jutland
Lars Møller (S), appointed by the municipal council of Norddjurs Municipality
Martin Raghner (K), appointed by the municipal council of Norddjurs Municipality, newly elected
Sebastian Halkjær-Grauert (LA), appointed by the municipal council of Norddjurs Municipality, newly elected
From left to right: Henrik Carstensen, Daniel Isak Dallerup, Lars Møller, Jørgen O.M. Laursen, Laura Hay Uggla, Bent Hansen, Lene S. Sørensen, Martin Raghner, Sebastian Halkjær-Grauert, and Jens Meilvang.
Port of Grenaa entered into a partnership with InterForce, which is part of the Danish Defense Command and works with companies across the country to ensure that employees can take time off from their civilian jobs to serve in uniform.
Under this new partnership, employees at the Port of Grenaa who are members of the Danish Armed Forces’ reserve forces, the Home Guard, the Danish Emergency Management Agency, or the Coastal Rescue Service will now be eligible for up to five days of paid leave per year for training or duty in uniform.
At Grenaa Port, the new partnership with Interforce is seen as a natural part of the company’s corporate social responsibility. Port employees already have the opportunity to participate in volunteer activities—such as serving as emergency responders and blood donors—even during working hours.
“InterForce contacted us to ask if we were interested in partnering with them—and we had no doubt that we wanted to. We see this as an obvious opportunity for us, as a company and a workplace, to contribute to emergency preparedness and take active social responsibility in the turbulent times we live in,” says Henrik Carstensen, Director of Grenaa Port, and elaborates:
“We don’t know exactly how many of our employees are part of the reserve force and could therefore be called to duty during working hours. But now the opportunity is there. Through this partnership, we’re making it clear that we support them—and perhaps this will encourage more employees to get involved in the Home Guard, for example.”
As part of the new partnership, Reserve Major Per Bøch Andersen, who serves as InterForce’s regional ambassador for the Central Jutland Region, presented an InterForce shield to the Port of Grenaa.
What is InterForce?
InterForce is an organization under the Defense Command that works to build support within the civilian sector for Denmark’s defense and emergency preparedness.
The organization works with companies across the country to ensure that employees can take time off from their civilian jobs to serve in uniform—either as reservists in the Armed Forces or as volunteers in the Home Guard, the Danish Emergency Management Agency, or the Danish Coast Guard.
These operations can range from training and search-and-rescue missions at sea to national emergency response operations, disaster relief efforts, and international missions.
Photo: From left: Director Henrik Carstensen, InterForce Regional Ambassador for the Central Jutland Region Per Bøch Andersen, and CAO Mette Klit.
Laura Hay Uggla is the new chair of Sydhavnen A/S, elected at the company's annual general meeting on March 9. The newly elected chair and board of directors will now continue working on the development of Grenaa Sydhavn and activities in the area.
At the annual general meeting of Sydhavnen A/S, a subsidiary of Grenaa Port, two new board members were welcomed and two were bid farewell.
One of Sydhavnen A/S's objectives is to develop and promote Grenaa Sydhavn as a recreational and sustainable area where maritime life goes hand in hand with business, innovation, events, and culture.
Two new members
Two of the board's five members have been appointed by Norddjurs Municipality. Jan Petersen, who has been appointed to the board by Norddjurs Municipality since 2022 and has served as chairman of Sydhavnen A/S, has resigned from the board. The same applies to Anne Bjerrekær, who has also been a member of the board since 2022.
Laura Hay Uggla and Aleksander Myrhøj have joined as new members. Myrhøj has been appointed as representative for Norddjurs Municipality, as has Benno Blæsild, who remains on the board.
At a subsequent board meeting, the board constituted itself with Laura Hay Uggla as chair and Henrik Carstensen, director of Port of Grenaa, as vice chair.
The new board now consists of:
Laura Hay Uggla, Chair Henrik Carstensen, Vice Chair Aleksander Myrhøj Lene S. Sørensen Benno Blæsild
Laura Hay Uggla newly elected chairperson.
Henrik Carstensen thanked the two outgoing board members for their efforts:
“I would like to thank Jan Petersen and Anne Bjerrekær for their commitment and work on the board over the past few years. At the same time, we look forward to working with the new members, who bring strong skills to the board’s work.”
Experience from business and local politics
Laura Hay Uggla is no stranger to port management. She has been a member of the board of Port of Grenaa since 2021 Port of Grenaa has served as vice chair since 2022.
She holds a Master of Laws degree from Aarhus University and has previously served as a councilor in Aarhus Municipality. Today, she is a board member of a number of commercial enterprises and cultural institutions, including chair of the ARoS art museum.
Laura Hay Uggla sees great potential in developing Sydhavnen:
"Sydhavnen is a very central location with great potential for both Grenaa Port and the town of Grenaa. I am convinced that this will require a strong team effort from the board of directors, Norddjurs Municipality, and the town's citizens and business community," she says, elaborating:
“I grew up on Hjarnø in Horsens Fjord and am fascinated by the connection to the sea and the unique gathering place that can be created around a harbor.”
The newly elected chair brings experience in urban development, including from her time as councilor for Technology and Environment in Aarhus.
“Through my work on a number of cultural and business boards, I have also developed an eye for both cultural and commercial opportunities. With this experience, I hope that I can contribute positively to the development of Sydhavnen and build on the great efforts that Grenaa Port, Norddjurs Municipality, and the previous board have already put into the project."
Aleksander Myrhøj is a member of the municipal council in Norddjurs Municipality for the Socialist People's Party (SF). He has been active in local politics for a number of years and works as an independent special education consultant.
Aleksander Myrhøj, new board member appointed by Norddjurs Municipality.
Further develop the vision for Sydhavnen
One of the new board's most important tasks is to draw up a good plan for the development of the area and to implement concrete initiatives. On the drawing board is, among other things, a plan for Sydhavnstorvet and a possible development of the red building located in the same area.
This development work is being carried out in close collaboration with the association "Norddjurs Development Association for Climate and Sustainable Development," which consists of representatives from Norddjurs Municipality, the Kattegat Center, Port of Grenaa Sydhavnen A/S.
Mette Klit, who took up the position of CEO of Sydhavnen A/S in April 2025, has spent the past year focusing on talking to the port's stakeholders and gathering their ideas for developing the area.
"We recently brought together a large number of the area's event organizers, including restaurateurs, hotels, and associations, for a networking meeting, where it became clear that there was strong support for joint development. This is a really positive approach to build on as the new board gets started on its work," says Mette Klit.
She warmly welcomes the new chairman of the board:
“There is no doubt that Laura Hay Uggla brings some strong skills that we need. She has experience with fundraising, and funding is one of the prerequisites for us to develop the area.”
Turning up the culture
At the general meeting, it was also emphasized that Sydhavnen has experienced great local support for the cultural events that have been held during 2025. Therefore, some of the activities in spring and summer 2026 will be scaled up.
“We are repeating the success of our one-day Sydhavnsfestival on Saturday, August 1, where this year we will be offering more music and expanding the festival area. In addition, we are also very pleased to welcome Nordisk Skudetræf on Tuesday, June 30, when we expect a number of beautiful wooden ships to visit our cozy harbor," says Mette Klit.
In the coming years, the Sydhavnen board will have to decide which initiatives to prioritize and implement, as well as how to seek funding to realize the projects.
The board will begin this work in earnest when it holds its next board meeting in April.
The Board of Directors of Sydhavnen A/S
Laura Hay Uggla, Chair Henrik Carstensen, Vice Chair Aleksander Myrhøj Lene S. Sørensen Benno Blæsild
About Sydhavnen A/S
Sydhavnen A/S is a subsidiary of the Port of Grenaa Group.
Sydhavnen A/S, whose purpose is to develop and promote Grenaa Sydhavn as a recreational and sustainable area. The company's overall mission is to create an engaging tension between historic harbor life and a developing environment around business, innovation, events, and culture. The Sydhavnen area stretches from Ndr. Kajgade in the north to the Kattegat Center in the south.
From left: Benno Blæsild, Aleksander Myrhøj, Lene S. Sørensen, Director Mette Klit, Chair Laura Hay Uggla, and Vice Chair Henrik Carstensen.
WithStrategy 2030, Port of Grenaa is setting Port of Grenaa clear course for the port's future – a course based on responsibility, cooperation, and a strong desire to deliver a stronger port in 2030.
"Our vision is to continue to be a port that is known for being professional and flexible in our collaboration with customers and suppliers. It is not our ambition to be the largest, but rather the best within our business areas. At the same time, we have an ambitious goal of strengthening our role as a central beacon for business and community development for the benefit of companies and citizens in Norddjurs Municipality,"says CEO Henrik Carstensen.
With Strategy 2030, Grenaa Port will therefore maintain its focus on being a strategic alliance partner for customers and partners.
“We recognize that we have both a significant responsibility and a significant opportunity to contribute even more to the success of our partners’ businesses – locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally,”says Henrik Carstensen.
The strategy also marks an increased focus on Grenaa Port's role as a regional powerhouse that creates growth and business development in Djursland. The ambition is to remain a leader in bulk, recycling, resource management, and offshore wind.
A responsibility that extends far beyond the port area
Strategy 2030, which was approved by Port of Grenaa Board of Directors Port of Grenaa November 2025, covers the Port of Grenaa, the Port of Anholt, and the South Port. Central to the strategy is the clarification that the Port of Grenaa assumes responsibility that extends far beyond the port area itself.
“The port plays a central role in business development, jobs, and the local community. We want to be a modern, attractive, and safe workplace—but also a company that takes social responsibility seriously, both for young people entering the labor market and for local associations and cultural life,”says Henrik Carstensen.
For example, Grenaa Port will continue to contribute to educating the workforce of the future and maintain its involvement in local initiatives, community life, and cultural activities—including theLiv på Sydhavnen (Lifein South Harbor) project and educational initiatives such asUngeløftet(The Youth Pledge).
Green responsibility and sustainable business development
Sustainability is a fundamental element of Strategy 2030. During the period 2020–2025, Grenaa Port has worked purposefully and ambitiously on green transition – work that will continue towards 2030.
“This is one of the reasons why 10 percent of Grenaa Port’s profits are used for sustainable transition within the port’s business areas. The ambition is not only to pass on the port, but to hand it over in better condition than when we took over responsibility for it. Achieving this goal requires constant effort,”says Henrik Carstensen.
Grenaa Port was founded in 1812 and has played a central role for more than 200 years. Strategy 2030 aims to ensure that the port remains strong for the next 200 years – based on sound business practices, green transition, and responsible development.
More than a port
With Strategy 2030, Grenaa Port is clearly positioning itself asmuch more than just a port. The port is a regional powerhouse that:
creates growth and business development in Djursland
supports customers and partners locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally
actively working to improve infrastructure – both on land and at sea
has ambitions to be a leader in bulk, recycling & resource management, and offshore wind
At the same time, Grenaa Port will work purposefully in the coming years to develop Sydhavnen and Anholt as attractive destinations for both local communities and tourists.
“Grenaa Port is undergoing positive development. We are continuing to build on this, but with Strategy 2030 we are also setting an ambitious and responsible course for the future,”says Henrik Carstensen.
More young people need to find their way to jobs, education, and meaningful communities in Norddjurs Municipality. That is the ambition behind Ungeløftet (The Youth Pledge) – an initiative that Grenaa Port now supports as a partner.
Grenaa Port already has a strong focus on young people through a mentoring project aimed at students in grades 8-10. With the partnership in Ungeløftet, the initiative is being expanded to also include young people aged 15-29 who need alternative routes into the workforce.
Room for more young people in the working community
Ungeløftet is a national partnership between businesses, civil society actors, labor market parties, umbrella organizations, and the Local Government Association, among others. The goal of Ungeløftet in Norddjurs Municipality is to create space in local businesses for approximately 300 young people who are outside the labor market or education system.
Grenaa Port joined the partnership in 2025, which entails a commitment to take on young people and create an expanded, practice-oriented learning environment where they can develop professionally and personally.
Anne Timmann, internship coordinator at Grenaa Port, explains:
"As a workplace, we really want to help create a meaningful environment where young people can grow, find direction, and become part of a working community. We hope that we can help motivate young people and give them the opportunity to experience that what they bring to the table has value."
Many opportunities – one shared ambition
At Grenaa Port, there are many opportunities to become part of everyday life – both in administration and in the operations department. The courses are tailored to ensure that there is a good match between the tasks we can offer and the skills that the young person brings with them.
"No matter which young person walks through our door, we will do our best to put together a program based on that young person's resources. At the same time, we want to give young people the opportunity to discover new sides of themselves," says Anne Timmann.
A commitment rooted in the local community
For Grenaa Port, the Youth Pledge is yet another pillar in its collaboration with Norddjurs Municipality.
"Helping young people move on—or enter—working life while making a positive contribution to our local community is very important to us. We are a workplace with many different professions and types of employment. It is very valuable to us to be able to support young people in seeing their own value and in this way stand together with the municipality and the business community for the benefit of young people," concludes Anne Timmann.
