New Customs Gate to Boost European Freight Transport

The Ministry of Trade announced that a new customs gate will be put into service to the north of Kapıkule, aiming to accelerate Europe-bound logistics flows between Türkiye and Bulgaria. The project is expected to ease congestion in road transportation in particular and create new opportunities for commercial crossings.

Speaking at a meeting organized by the International Association of Transporters (UND), where 2025 transport statistics were evaluated, Minister Ömer Bolat stated that the Bulgarian Parliament has submitted a draft agreement to Türkiye regarding the opening of a new border gate between the two countries. Once the new gate becomes operational, congestion at the Kapıkule, Hamzabeyli and İpsala border crossings is expected to decrease significantly.

A New Corridor on European Routes

Minister Bolat emphasized that the planned customs gate to the immediate north of Kapıkule will play a strategic role in Türkiye’s export transportation to Europe. With this project, an additional crossing point will be created alongside existing routes, providing logistics companies with an alternative and more efficient corridor.

Reducing border waiting times—which can last for hours or even days during peak periods—is considered critically important for lowering logistics costs, shortening delivery times and improving overall operational efficiency within the sector.

A Logistics Sector Worth USD 100 Billion

During the meeting, Minister Bolat also shared data on the current status of Türkiye’s logistics sector, noting that its market size has exceeded USD 100 billion. In 2025, logistics service exports reached USD 42.4 billion, once again highlighting the sector’s substantial share in Türkiye’s total services exports.

Drawing attention to the global logistics market reaching a size of USD 11 trillion, Bolat underscored that digitalization, faster customs procedures and diversification of international transit routes will be key factors in strengthening competitiveness.

A Step That Will Breathe New Life into the Sector

The new customs gate planned to the north of Kapıkule is intended to provide significant relief for both exporters and international transport operators. Once implemented, the project is expected to contribute to a more balanced, faster and sustainable logistics structure along the Türkiye–Europe corridor.

Source: Bloomberg HT​