Türkiye raises Turkish Straits transit fee to $6.70 per ton

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced that international vessels traversing the Bosphorus and Dardanelles will face revised transit charges effective July 1, 2026. "We will update the fee charged per net ton from ships, which was $5.83 in 2025, to $6.70 as of July 1," he told Anadolu Agency. The minister explained that the toll—calculated in "gold francs" under the Montreux Convention based on net registered tonnage—is updated annually to support the national economy.

Four decades of frozen rates

The toll remained fixed at $0.80 per net ton for 39 years until October 2022, when a presidential decision raised it to $4.08. Subsequent annual adjustments brought the rate to $4.42 in 2023, $5.07 in 2024, and $5.83 in 2025. "This year, we are also making an adjustment, and as of July 1, 2026, we are revising the transit fee charged from international vessels passing through the straits to $6.70," Uraloglu said.

Revenue surge for Treasury

The latest revision applies to vessels passing without stopping at Turkish ports and covers charges for health inspection, lighthouse, and salvage services. Transit revenue jumped from $38 million between July 2021 and June 2022 to $223 million in the 2024-2025 period, with officials forecasting $254 million for the coming fiscal year. "The rise in revenue and the price updates show the contribution to the economy," Uraloglu said, adding that the increase aims to strengthen foreign currency inflows and expand public revenue.