Türkiye's straits see 63,000 vessel transits, ports handle record cargo

The strategic Turkish straits have demonstrated their critical role in global maritime commerce, with a total of 62,736 vessels navigating these waterways between January and September. According to a statement from Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, the Istanbul Strait recorded 29,710 transits, while the Canakkale Strait saw even higher traffic with 33,029 vessels. This substantial maritime flow underscores Türkiye's pivotal geographic position.

Vessel and Cargo Breakdown

Analyzing the ship types, general cargo ships led the traffic with 21,235 vessels, followed by 11,437 bulk carriers. Container ship traffic was also significant, with 7,959 vessels carrying a substantial 1.1 million gross tons of cargo passing through the Turkish straits during this period. This diverse mix of vessel types points to a robust and varied trade ecosystem.

Port Activity and National Flags

Beyond the straits, Türkiye's ports witnessed impressive activity, welcoming 47,631 vessel calls. Of these, 30,854 vessels were foreign-flagged, compared to 16,770 flying the Turkish flag. The northwestern province of Kocaeli emerged as the busiest hub, receiving the most vessels of both Turkish (1,967) and foreign (4,946) registration. It was followed by ports in Aliaga, Iskenderun, and Mersin for foreign-flagged traffic.

Record Figures in Cargo and Tourism

Minister Uraloglu connected the strait traffic to broader economic achievements, stating, “The data points to our strengthening position in the world maritime trade.” He reported that Turkish ports handled 457 million tons of cargo in the last ten months, with container numbers reaching 11.7 million TEUs. The minister also announced a new record in cruise tourism, with 1,278 cruise ships bringing over 2 million passengers to Türkiye's shores.