Washington DC [US], February 2: The volume of cargo handled at Turkiye's ports surpassed 553 million tons in 2025, reaching a new record high, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said Saturday.
The volume surged by 4 percent compared to the previous year, he said.
In a written statement, Uraloğlu evaluated the 2025 data prepared by the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs, noting that efforts continue to increase Turkiye's share in maritime trade and further develop sea transport, the backbone of foreign trade.
"In 2025, the amount of cargo handled at our ports increased by 4 percent compared with the previous year to 553.26 million tons, breaking a record in the history of the republic," he said.
He added that cargo shipped from Turkish ports to foreign ports last year was up 0.4 percent on an annual basis, reaching 142.7 million tons, while cargo arriving from foreign ports increased 5.6 percent to 271.6 million tons.
According to Uraloğlu, international freight transportation by sea increased 3.8 percent from the previous year to 414.4 million tons in 2025. By regional port authority, the highest cargo handling volume was recorded at ports operating under the Aliağa Regional Port Authority, with 89.5 million tons, followed by Kocaeli with 83.9 million tons and Iskenderun with 70.9 million tons, he informed.
"Liquid bulk cargo rose by 4.6 percent compared with the previous year, while dry bulk cargo increased by 5.7 percent to 160.9 million tons. Container cargo (volume) rose 0.7 percent to 144.33 million tonnes. General cargo increased 6 percent to 65.8 million tons, while Ro-Ro cargo rose 4.7 percent to 12.42 million tons," he added.
The cargo types showing the largest increases in port handling were non-briquetted coal with 4.35 million tons, crude oil with 3.15 million tons, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) with 3.08 million tons, Uraloğlu noted.
Source: Qatar Tribune
