diff --git a/update-cron.sh b/update-cron.sh
index 4d17c29..a1e6581 100755
--- a/update-cron.sh
+++ b/update-cron.sh
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ flock 100
 
 src=/srv/data/tsc-cloud/homepage/hugo-page
 dst=/srv/http/tsc/hugo
+prod=/srv/data/tsc-cloud/homepage/production
 
 cmd="$SSH_ORIGINAL_COMMAND"
 # echo "$cmd"
@@ -47,7 +48,18 @@ doPublishToStage() {
 }
 
 doPublishToProduction() {
-	rclone sync --stats 3s -c public/ ionos:/
+# This complicated two step publication is required to speed up the transfer.
+# The sftp-based production server does not allow to use checksums.
+# Hugo recreates all files with the time stamp at building.
+# Thus, all files would be transmitted as the time has changed.
+# To overcome this, the intermediate cache should have the same times as the upstream server.
+	echo "Syncing to intermediate stage"
+	rsync -rlpcv --delete --delete-delay public/ $prod/
+
+	echo "Syncing from intermediate stage to production web server"
+	rclone sync --stats 3s $prod/ ionos:/
+
+	echo "Cleaning up empty directories"
 	rclone rmdirs ionos:/
 }