Türkiye Maritime Transport Profile 2026
Outline
TÜRKİYE
MARITIME TRANSPORT PROFILE
Supported by:
Maritime assets
Port area in 2025
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Ships built by country of building, annual
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Merchant fleet by country of beneficial ownership, annual
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Trade - Navigation total
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Water transport employment
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Activity
Container port throughput
Port call and performance statistics
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Trade mode share
Port Activity
Trade openness index
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Seafarer supply
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Top 10 Freight Transport Expenditure in USD (Import)
Source: UNCTAD & World Bank. (n.d.). TransportCosts. UN Trade & Development Data Hub - Trade-and-Transport Dataset, Annual, 2016 Onward. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://unctadstat.unctad.org/datacentre/dataviewer/US.TransportCosts
Top 10 Freight transport work in thousand ton-km (Import)
Source: UNCTAD & World Bank. (n.d.). TransportCosts. UN Trade & Development Data Hub - Trade-and-Transport Dataset, Annual, 2016 Onward. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://unctadstat.unctad.org/datacentre/dataviewer/US.TransportCosts
Top 10 Freight Transport Expenditure in USD (Export)
Source: UNCTAD & World Bank. (n.d.). TransportCosts. UN Trade & Development Data Hub - Trade-and-Transport Dataset, Annual, 2016 Onward. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://unctadstat.unctad.org/datacentre/dataviewer/US.TransportCosts
Top 10 Freight transport work in thousand ton-km (Export)
Source: UNCTAD & World Bank. (n.d.). TransportCosts. UN Trade & Development Data Hub - Trade-and-Transport Dataset, Annual, 2016 Onward. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://unctadstat.unctad.org/datacentre/dataviewer/US.TransportCosts
Connectivity and performance
LPI
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Liner shipping connectivity index
Port liner shipping connectivity index
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Bilateral liner shipping connectivity index
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Trade cost
Container port performance index
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Remoteness index
Sustainable freight transport index
Percent of firms identifying transport as a major constraint
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Shipping emissions
EDGAR GHG 2025
Transport energy consumption
EDGAR AP 8.1
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GAINS emissions
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Adaptation and resilience
Average annual loss
Port risk
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Investment on ports
Development financing
Private participation in infrastructure
Policy Targets
EV in water transport
| Twelfth Development Plan (2024–2028) | 2023 | Maritime Transit Cargo Handling (Million Tones) = 89.5 (81 - 2022) | 2028 |
| Mobility Vehicles and Technologies Roadmap | 2022 | Domestic electric motors and | 2030 |
| Mobility Vehicles and Technologies Roadmap | 2022 | Increasing the capacity utilization rates of the top 10 container ports in our country to 75%. to increase the localization rate in orders with the production of high value-added products and to increase ship orders to 35%. | 2030 |
Increasing transport activity
| Twelfth Development Plan (2024–2028) | 2023 | Maritime Transit Cargo Handling (Million Tones) = 89.5 (81 - 2022) | 2028 |
| Mobility Vehicles and Technologies Roadmap | 2022 | Domestic electric motors and | 2030 |
| Mobility Vehicles and Technologies Roadmap | 2022 | Increasing the capacity utilization rates of the top 10 container ports in our country to 75%. to increase the localization rate in orders with the production of high value-added products and to increase ship orders to 35%. | 2030 |
Shipping improvement - General
| Twelfth Development Plan (2024–2028) | 2023 | Maritime Transit Cargo Handling (Million Tones) = 89.5 (81 - 2022) | 2028 |
| Mobility Vehicles and Technologies Roadmap | 2022 | Domestic electric motors and | 2030 |
| Mobility Vehicles and Technologies Roadmap | 2022 | Increasing the capacity utilization rates of the top 10 container ports in our country to 75%. to increase the localization rate in orders with the production of high value-added products and to increase ship orders to 35%. | 2030 |
Policy Measures
| 2024-2030 Climate Change Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan | Inland waterways (IWT) improvement - General | Supporting inter-city maritime passenger transport. Developing urban maritime passenger transport and infrastructure in coastal provinces. Supporting maritime cargo transport and infrastructure. | 2024 |
| 2024-2030 Climate Change Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan | LPG/ CNG/ LNG | Supporting research for alternative fuelled vehicles (LNG/Hydrogen, Bio CNG, Bio-LNG, etc.) | 2024 |
| 2053 Long-Term Climate Strategy | Modal shift | Efforts to increase the share of the railway and maritime sectors will continue to achieve a more balanced transportation system Efforts to increase the share of the railway and maritime sectors will continue to achieve a more balanced transportation system. | 2024 |
| 2053 Long-Term Climate Strategy | Port electrification | support the electrification of maritime transport systems, vessels, and ground services in air transportation | 2024 |
| 2053 Long-Term Climate Strategy | Shipping efficiency improvements | outdated technology in maritime and road vehicles will be phased out to align with sustainability goals. | 2024 |
| 2053 Long-Term Climate Strategy | Shipping improvement - General | support the electrification of maritime transport systems, vessels, and ground services in air transportation | 2024 |
| 2053 Long-Term Climate Strategy | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | Plans to construct 31 new ports aim to advance international maritime freight transportation while identifying routes with emission reduction potential for national freight transport. | 2024 |
| National Communication (NC). NC 8. Biennial Reports (BR). BR 5. | Ammonia | Ships powered by LNG, battery/electrification, methanol, green hydrogen and ammonia will be priority tasks | 2023 |
| Transport and Logistics Master Plan – 2053 | Employment in transport, communication, and storage | Supporting companies specializing in yacht building to protect and increase their branding and employment, and focusing on R&D and innovation in this field. Aviation: Providing full-time and integrated customs and cargo ground services | 2023 |
| Transport and Logistics Master Plan – 2053 | Financial instruments to support decarbonisation - General | Providing incentives for the rejuvenation and development of the Turkish maritime merchant fleet. Providing incentives for green port implementation and reducing the use of environmentally harmful machinery and equipment. | 2023 |
| National Communication (NC). NC 8. Biennial Reports (BR). BR 5. | Hydrogen | Ships powered by LNG, battery/electrification, methanol, green hydrogen and ammonia will be priority tasks | 2023 |
| Transport and Logistics Master Plan – 2053 | Hydrogen | Instead of fossil fuel vehicle technologies, environmental solutions (hydrogen, electricity) should be disseminated, and electric highway applications should be investigated. Supporting R&D studies for alternative fuel (hydrogen, etc.) and autonomous ships | 2023 |
| Twelfth Development Plan (2024–2028) | Increasing transport activity | Maritime Transit Cargo Handling (Million Tones) = 89.5 (81 - 2022) | 2023 |
| Transport and Logistics Master Plan – 2053 | Inland waterways (IWT) improvement - General | RO-RO, RO-LA and Train-Ferry lines should be developed, their capacities should be increased, inadequacies in their terminals should be eliminated, activities for effective and efficient freight transfers should be developed. | 2023 |
| National Communication (NC). NC 8. Biennial Reports (BR). BR 5. | Innovations and digitalization - General | Türkiye aims to establish financial support mechanisms for innovative technologies to be used for environmentally friendly, sustainable and safe transportation on the ships and ports. | 2023 |
| National Communication (NC). NC 8. Biennial Reports (BR). BR 5. | LPG/ CNG/ LNG | Ships powered by LNG, battery/electrification, methanol, green hydrogen and ammonia will be priority tasks | 2023 |
| Transport and Logistics Master Plan – 2053 | LPG/ CNG/ LNG | Constructing ferries and tugboats using LNG fuel in an environmentally friendly (green) manner and presenting these products to the world maritime industry | 2023 |
| Transport and Logistics Master Plan – 2053 | Maritime Safety | Extending the safe execution of port operations on a single platform in the port and container tracking mechanism. | 2023 |
| National Communication (NC). NC 8. Biennial Reports (BR). BR 5. | Modal shift | The MoTI has released a regulation that supports the transfer of cargoes from road to seaway on 9 August 2022. | 2023 |
| National Communication (NC). NC 8. Biennial Reports (BR). BR 5. | Reference to domestic financing mechanisms | Türkiye aims to establish financial support mechanisms for innovative technologies to be used for environmentally friendly, sustainable and safe transportation on the ships and ports. | 2023 |
| First NDC (Updated) - TUR | Renewable energy | Highly renewable energy resources will be used in ports. | 2023 |
| Transport and Logistics Master Plan – 2053 | Renewable energy | Increasing energy efficiency in rail transport (use of regenerative energy, etc.) Shipping - Increasing studies on different potential energy sources together with existing renewable energy sources | 2023 |
| National Communication (NC). NC 8. Biennial Reports (BR). BR 5. | Shipping efficiency improvements | Türkiye also plans to support the construction of new ships and retrofitting of existing ships for a low-carbon, energy and fuel-efficient maritime fleet. | 2023 |
| Transport and Logistics Master Plan – 2053 | Shipping efficiency improvements | Making new regulations regarding the reduction of emissions originating from ships. | 2023 |
| Transport and Logistics Master Plan – 2053 | Shipping fuels | Shipping - Increasing studies on different potential energy sources together with existing renewable energy sources | 2023 |
| National Communication (NC). NC 8. Biennial Reports (BR). BR 5. | Shipping improvement - General | The By-Law on Recreational Craft and Personal Watercraft entered into force in May 2017, in accordance with the EU Directive 2013/53/EU on Recreational Craft and Personal Watercraft. The By-Law aims to limit carbon, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons ratios in the exhaust emissions of the personal watercraft engines. | 2023 |
| Transport and Logistics Master Plan – 2053 | Shipping improvement - General | Developing a Turkish merchant fleet in order to provide alternative financial investments in the maritime sector. Developing existing studies in order to be a guide on environmental pollution. Optimizing the fuel station required by hybrid ships. Monitoring and improving indicators such as the number of Turkish flagged fleet and private boats continuously. Extending the safe execution of port operations on a single platform in the port and container tracking mechanism. Taking measures for low emission zone studies in the seas around our country. Developing measures related to maritime transport security (e.g. pirates). Addressing e-navigation and digital maritime transformation at a strategic level together with autonomous systems. | 2023 |
| First NDC (Updated) - TUR | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | To expand green port implementations | 2023 |
| National Communication (NC). NC 8. Biennial Reports (BR). BR 5. | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | The “Green Port” application is expected to increase the environmentally friendly port facilities and as of 2023, while 20 ports received Green Port Certificate, the application procedures of 6 more ports are still in progress. | 2023 |
| Transport and Logistics Master Plan – 2053 | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | İyidere Logistics Port will be a logistics base that will make significant contributions to the regional and national economy. Considering port projects and the transportation network between cities jointly in terms of the natural resources of the region and the supply and transportation of raw materials.Increasing the transhipment service capacity of ports and developing a multi-modal and short-distance maritime transport infrastructure that can serve the countries of the region. Providing incentives for green port implementation and reducing the use of environmentally harmful machinery and equipment. Inspecting port facilities regularly and adequately. Rearranging working conditions to carry port operations without interruption. Ensuring the implementation of the Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) system in all ports | 2023 |
| Twelfth Development Plan (2024–2028) | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | Green port practices will continue to be supported by encouraging the use of low emission/non-emission producing machinery and equipment in order to increase energy ef ficiency in port operations and minimize envi ronmental impacts. A main port will be built in the Eas tern Mediterranean region, which will be the gateway to the Middle East and Central Asian countries, focusing on transit cargo and cont ributing to the development of the region and increasing exports | 2023 |
| Transport and Logistics Master Plan – 2053 | Technology and knowledge transfer | Providing real-time horizontal and vertical integration of all information related to port management, ship movements and territorial waters among stakeholders in the sector (port operator, shipowner, line operator) regarding port management, ship movements and territorial waters | 2023 |
| National Communication (NC). NC 8. Biennial Reports (BR). BR 5. | Transport labels - General | The “Green Port” application is expected to increase the environmentally friendly port facilities and as of 2023, while 20 ports received Green Port Certificate, the application procedures of 6 more ports are still in progress. In the scope of The Green Airport Project, 170 companies achieved to obtain Green Company Certificate and 6 airports (Uşak, Tokat, Adana, Balıkesir, Siirt and Erzincan Airports) succeeded to have Green Airport Certificate as of 2020. If a company achieves to get a Green Company Certificate, it gains 20% reduction on company license renewal fee. If an airport achieves to get a Green Airport certificate, all the companies have the 50% reduction on company license renewal. Several airports in Türkiye also participated to the Airport Carbon Accreditation Programme (ACA) initiated by Airports Council International (ACI). | 2023 |
| National Communication (NC). NC 8. Biennial Reports (BR). BR 5. | Transport Laws and Regulations- General | By-law on Electric Scooters. The By-Law on the Disclosure of Consumers About Fuel Economy of New Passenger Car and CO2 Emissions aims to provide enlightenment of consumers about CO2 emission and fuel economy of new passenger cars offered for sale or rent in the market in order to make consumers informed choices. The MoTI has released a regulation that supports the transfer of cargoes from road to seaway on 9 August 2022. | 2023 |
| First NDC (Updated) - TUR | Vessel scrappage and retrofit | To implement Ship Scrap Regulation | 2023 |
| Mobility Vehicles and Technologies Roadmap | Alternative fuels - General | Supporting the production of ships using alternative sustainable fuels for ships with high energy needs (long-distance transportation, etc.) | 2022 |
| Mobility Vehicles and Technologies Roadmap | EV in water transport | Domestic electric motors and | 2022 |
| Mobility Vehicles and Technologies Roadmap | Shipping improvement - General | Increasing the capacity utilization rates of the top 10 container ports in our country to 75%. to increase the localization rate in orders with the production of high value-added products and to increase ship orders to 35%. | 2022 |
| Mobility Vehicles and Technologies Roadmap | Shipping improvement - General | to become the world leader in small-tonnage ships. | 2022 |
| Mobility Vehicles and Technologies Roadmap | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | Coordinating the process of adaptation of existing ports to these standards and the establishment of new ports in accordance with these standards within the scope of the development of technology, infrastructure and standards for “Smart Port” management and services Developing digital innovations and port automation solutions using artificial intelligence, big data, the internet of things, 5G and autonomous vehicles to ensure competitiveness | 2022 |
| First NDC - TUR | Shipping efficiency improvements | Implementing green port and green airport projects to ensure energy efficiency | 2021 |
| First NDC - TUR | Shipping improvement - General | Implementing special consumption tax exemptions for maritime transport | 2021 |
| First NDC - TUR | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | Implementing green port and green airport projects to ensure energy efficiency | 2021 |
| Voluntary National Review 2019 - TUR | Airport infrastructure improvement | The key components of the policy framework in line with SDG 9 are as follows: Strengthening railway and maritime infrastructure, enhancing the effectiveness of airway infrastructure. | 2019 |
| Voluntary National Review 2019 - TUR | Freight intermodality - General | The key components of the policy framework in line with SDG 9 are as follows: Ensuring balance between transport modes; switching from road transport to rail and sea transport particularly in freight transport and ensuring integration among different transport modes. The following policies will be implemented in the upcoming years to achieve SDG 9: Strengthening integration among transport modes and combined transportation facilities, improving rail and sea transport particularly in freight transport. | 2019 |
| Voluntary National Review 2019 - TUR | Freight and logistics improvements - General | The following policies will be implemented in the upcoming years to achieve SDG 13: Increasing the share of railway and maritime transport in freight transportation. | 2019 |
| Voluntary National Review 2019 - TUR | Rail improvement - General | The key components of the policy framework in line with SDG 9 are as follows: Strengthening railway and maritime infrastructure, enhancing the effectiveness of airway infrastructure. The following policies will be implemented in the upcoming years to achieve SDG 9: Strengthening integration among transport modes and combined transportation facilities, improving rail and sea transport particularly in freight transport. The key components of the policy framework in line with SDG 13 are as follows: Encouraging railway and maritime transport and developing combined transport opportunities. | 2019 |
| Voluntary National Review 2019 - TUR | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | The key components of the policy framework in line with SDG 9 are as follows: Strengthening railway and maritime infrastructure, enhancing the effectiveness of airway infrastructure. | 2019 |
| Voluntary National Review 2019 - TUR | Shipping improvement - General | The following policies will be implemented in the upcoming years to achieve SDG 9: Strengthening integration among transport modes and combined transportation facilities, improving rail and sea transport particularly in freight transport. The key components of the policy framework in line with SDG 13 are as follows: Encouraging railway and maritime transport and developing combined transport opportunities. | 2019 |
| National Climate Change Action Plan | Inland waterways (IWT) improvement - General | Increasing the number of ro-ro ships in lines where there is demand, for use in freight, passenger and vehicle transportation | 2012 |
| National Climate Change Action Plan | Reference to domestic financing mechanisms | Shipping: Supporting cabotage transportation by developing tax incentives | 2012 |
| National Climate Change Action Plan | Shipping fuels | Making the legal arrangements that will make it mandatory to use low-sulphuric fuel for freight and passenger ships visiting our ports | 2012 |
| National Climate Change Action Plan | Shipping improvement - General | Strengthening the marine trade fleet with new ships, new machinery and equipment, and increasing the number of ships | 2012 |
| National Climate Change Action Plan | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | Improving technology, infrastructure and standards in existing ports. Construction of new ports to the locations identified within the scope of the Transportation Master Plan based on the Transportation Shore Structures Master Plan, with the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model. Implementing modern operation techniques in ports. | 2012 |
| National Climate Change Action Plan | Technology and knowledge transfer | Improving technology, infrastructure and standards in existing ports. Preparing guides to be distributed to all local governments on transport planning, rail system investment planning, travel demand management, obstacle-free/ universal design for pedestrian transport. Supporting R&D studies on clean fuel and vehicle technologies in the production of land, sea, air vehicles that have high energy efficiency. | 2012 |
| Climate Change Strategy 2010 2023 | Shipping improvement - General | Shortdistance maritime and lake transport shall be encou raged. | 2010 |