Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu evaluated the statistics for the January-June 2026 period prepared by the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs. Minister Uraloğlu reported that Turkish ports continued to grow in the first half of the year despite the geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz affecting global maritime trade and uncertainties in global logistics.
Handled cargo and container volumes increased. Minister Uraloğlu announced that according to General Directorate of Maritime Affairs data, the amount of cargo handled at ports in the January-June period rose by 1.5 percent compared to the same period last year to 279,112,301 tons, while container handling increased by 1.3 percent to 7,024,951 TEU.
“46,915,913 tons of cargo were handled in June,” said Uraloğlu, noting that they continue efforts to increase Turkey's share of maritime trade. “In June, 46,915,913 tons of cargo were handled at our ports. Overseas cargo shipments increased by 1.1 percent compared to the same month of 2025, reaching 33,828,104 tons.”
Uraloğlu also noted that the amount of containers handled at ports in June reached 1,195,392 TEU.
Kocaeli ranked first. Uraloğlu stated that in June, the highest cargo handling among regional port authorities was at port facilities within the administrative boundaries of the Kocaeli Regional Port Authority with 7,606,240 tons, followed by Aliağa with 7,573,818 tons and İskenderun Regional Port Authority with 5,442,739 tons.
Uraloğlu also stated that in June, transit cargo shipments by sea through ports amounted to 6,399,010 tons, while cabotage cargo reached 6,688,799 tons.
The cargo type with the highest increase was feldspar. Uraloğlu noted that among cargo types transported in June, feldspar showed the highest increase compared to the previous month with a rise of 301,364 tons, and that 649,501 tons of feldspar were handled at ports.
Uraloğlu said: “In June, Portland cement was the most transported cargo type from our ports to abroad by ships, with 1,009,867 tons. This was followed by clinker and feldspar. Crude oil ranked first among cargoes arriving at our ports from abroad, with 2,586,062 tons.
This was followed by hard coal (non-briquetted) and scrap iron.” The most cargo was shipped to Italy. Uraloğlu stated that in June, the most cargo was transported by sea from ports to Italy, followed by the USA and Egypt. Uraloğlu also reported that the most cargo arriving at ports by sea came from Russia.
