Record Handling in Turkish Ports in April

Türkiye’s ports set an all-time record for April in both cargo and container handling volumes in 2026. According to the figures announced by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, a total of 48,230,930 tons of cargo and 1,179,454 TEU of containers were handled at ports.

The container volume increased by 7.6% year-on-year, indicating that growth in port activity is accelerating.

The upward trend continued in the first four months of the year, covering the January–April period.

During this period:

• total cargo volume reached 185.6 million tons, increasing by 2.1%
• container volume rose to 4.55 million TEU, marking a 2.4% growth

These figures show that Türkiye continues to expand its share in maritime trade.

Strong Growth in Foreign Trade Cargo

In April, foreign trade cargo movements also gained significant momentum.

• Export cargo: 11.6 million tons
• Import cargo: 24.1 million tons
• Total foreign trade cargo: 35.8 million tons

Total foreign trade cargo increased by 8.3% year-on-year, with imports showing a notable rise of 11.1%.

Iskenderun, Kocaeli, and Aliağa Ports Stand Out

On a regional basis, the highest cargo handling volume was recorded within the administrative boundaries of the Iskenderun Port Authority.

• Iskenderun: 7.06 million tons
• Kocaeli: 6.93 million tons
• Aliağa: 6.92 million tons

These three regions played a decisive role in Türkiye’s overall port performance.

Transit and Cabotage Cargo

In April:

• transit cargo amounted to 5.7 million tons
• cabotage cargo reached 6.68 million tons

These figures indicate balanced activity in both domestic and international transportation.

Iron Ore Emerges Among Cargo Types

When analyzed by cargo type, iron ore and concentrates showed the highest increase in April.

A total of 1.46 million tons of iron ore was handled.

In exports, the leading cargo type was Portland cement with 1.17 million tons.

On the import side, crude oil ranked first with 2.29 million tons, followed by coal (non-briquetted) and scrap iron.

Key Trading Partners

In maritime transport:

• the highest export volume was directed to Italy, followed by the United States and Egypt
• on the import side, the highest volume of cargo came from Russia

The record achieved in April highlights the steady growth in cargo and container capacity at Türkiye’s ports. In particular, the increase in foreign trade volumes strengthens Türkiye’s position as a regional logistics hub while enhancing the role of its port infrastructure in global supply chains.