Cargo Volume Handled at Ports Increases by 1.3% in the First 10 Months of the Year

The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, reported that the amount of cargo handled at the ports during the period from January to October 2024 increased by 1.3% compared to the same period last year, reaching 441 million 908 thousand 326 tons, while the number of containers handled increased by 7.7% compared to the same period last year, reaching 11 million 295 thousand 340 TEUs.

Minister Uraloğlu stated, “In October, the amount of cargo transported abroad by Turkish-flagged ships was 2 million 474 thousand 937 tons, which is a 3% increase compared to the same month last year.” Uraloğlu announced the maritime statistics for the January-October 2024 period issued by the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs.

Emphasizing their determination to increase Turkey's share in maritime trade, Minister Uraloğlu added, “In October of this year, the amount of cargo handled at our ports was 44 million 71 thousand 843 tons. During the January-October period, cargo handled at our ports reached 441 million 908 thousand 326 tons. In October, the amount of cargo going from our ports to foreign ports was 12 million 256 thousand 246 tons. The amount of cargo arriving at our ports from foreign ports was 20 million 399 thousand 103 tons, while foreign cargo transport reached 32 million 655 thousand 349 tons.”

The Highest Cargo Handling Occurred at Kocaeli Regional Port Authority In October, Uraloğlu highlighted that the highest amount of cargo handling occurred at the Kocaeli Regional Port Authority, with 7 million 32 thousand 38 tons. “Kocaeli Regional Port Authority was followed by the Aliağa Regional Port Authority with 6 million 633 thousand 300 tons and the İskenderun Regional Port Authority with 5 million 478 thousand 56 tons.” Uraloğlu expressed that the amount of transit cargo transported by sea in ports in October was 5 million 742 thousand 347 tons, while the amount of cargo transported cabotage was 5 million 674 thousand 147 tons.

The Cargo Type with the Most Significant Increase was 40-foot Full Containers Uraloğlu noted that in October, the cargo type that experienced the most significant increase compared to the previous month was the handling of 40-foot full containers, with 6 million 797 thousand 226 tons handled at the ports. Furthermore, in October, Portland cement was the most transported cargo type abroad by ships from our ports, totaling 625 thousand 320 tons, followed by clinker, aluminum ore, and concentrates. Unprocessed coal topped the list of the most transported cargoes from foreign ports to our ports, followed in succession by crude oil and scrap iron.

The Most Cargo Transport Occurred to Italy, China, and the USA Uraloğlu indicated that in October, the highest amount of cargo transported from the ports abroad by sea was to Italy, followed by transport to China and the United States. He noted that the majority of cargo arriving at Turkish ports by sea came from Russia, stating, “Of the 32 million 655 thousand 349 tons of foreign cargo handled at our ports in October, 7.6% was transported by Turkish-flagged ships. The amount of cargo transported abroad by Turkish-flagged ships was 2 million 474 thousand 937 tons, which is a 3% increase compared to the same month last year. The amount of cargo transported from abroad by foreign-flagged ships was 30 million 180 thousand 412 tons, a decrease of 3.6% compared to the same month last year.”

The Amount of Containers Handled Increased by 7.7% Compared to the Same Period Last Year Uraloğlu pointed out that the number of containers handled at the ports in October increased by 3.3% compared to the same month last year, reaching 1 million 154 thousand 981 TEUs, and emphasized that the amount of containers handled at the ports during the first 10 months of the year increased by 7.7% compared to the same period last year, totaling 11 million 295 thousand 340 TEUs.