Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu evaluated the maritime statistics for 2024. Stating that they continue their efforts to ensure that Turkey gets a larger share of maritime trade, Uraloğlu said, “The amount of cargo handled at ports increased by 2 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 531 million 737 thousand 358 tons. The amount of containers handled increased by 7,8 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 13 million 529 thousand 729 TEU.”
“International Freight Transportation Reached 399 Million 414 Thousand 557 Tons”
Uraloğlu stated that the amount of cargo going to foreign ports in 2024 increased by 5 percent compared to the previous year and reached 142 million 278 thousand 137 tons, and included the following statements in his statement:
“The amount of cargo arriving at our ports from foreign ports increased by 0,4 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 257 million 136 thousand 420 tons. In 2024, international cargo transportation by sea increased by 2,0 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 399 million 414 thousand 557 tons.”
Aliağa Regional Port Authority at the Summit
Uraloğlu stated that the highest cargo handling in 2024 on the basis of regional port authorities was carried out in port facilities operating within the administrative borders of Aliağa Regional Port Authority with 86 million 295 thousand 565 tons of cargo, and said, “Aliağa Regional Port Authority was followed by Kocaeli Regional Port Authority with 83 million 787 thousand 739 tons and İskenderun Regional Port Authority with 68 million 563 thousand 930 tons.”
Uraloğlu stated that in 2024, transit cargo transportation by sea in ports was realized as 69 million 64 thousand 361 tons, and the amount of cargo carried in cabotage was realized as 63 million 258 thousand 440 tons.
The Highest Increase in 40' Containers
Uraloğlu stated that the types of cargo that will increase the most in 2024 compared to the previous year are; 7,1-foot containers with an increase of 40 million tons, trailers carrying containers with an increase of 2,9 million tons and 2,3-foot containers with an increase of 20 million tons, respectively.
Minister Uraloğlu stated that, excluding the loads carried in containers and vehicles in the year in question, Portland cement was the type of load carried the most by ships from ports to go abroad with 9 million 779 thousand 766 tons, and said, “Portland cement was followed by diesel and clinker load types. Crude oil ranked first among the loads carried the most by ships coming to our ports from abroad. This was followed by unbriquetted coal and scrap iron, respectively.”
Most Freight from Russia
Uraloğlu noted that the highest amount of cargo carried from ports to go abroad in 2024 was carried out in transports to Italy, followed by transports to the USA and Spain.
Uraloğlu stated that the largest amount of cargo arriving at ports by sea was transported from Russia, the USA and Egypt, respectively, and made the following assessment:
“2024 percent of the 399 million 414 thousand 557 tons of international cargo handled in our ports in 7,5 was carried by Turkish-flagged ships. International transportation by Turkish-flagged ships was 30 million 59 thousand 943 tons, and international transportation by foreign-flagged ships was 369 million 354 thousand 614 tons.”
