In 2025, Turkish straits facilitated 84,640 vessels, highlighting their strategic maritime importance amid global trade changes.
According to information compiled from the statistics of the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs, the Turkish straits continue to provide passage for tens of thousands of international vessels.
In 2025, when the global trade system underwent significant transformations due to new customs tariffs imposed by the United States on many countries, the Turkish straits maintained their strategic importance.
As one of the important countries in the world in terms of maritime transport, Turkey saw a total of 84,640 vessels pass through the Istanbul and Çanakkale straits last year.
The number of vessels passing through the Istanbul Strait was calculated to be 40,172, while the number of vessels passing through the Çanakkale Strait was 44,468.
When classified by type, 28,594 of the vessels passing through the straits were general cargo, 15,559 were bulk carriers, and 10,659 were container ships.
During this period, a total of 1 billion 585.3 million gross tons of vessels passed through the straits, with the number of vessels that received pilotage recorded as 48,579.
Increase in maritime cargo transport
Maritime exports increased by 3.8% compared to the previous year, reaching 414 million 416 thousand 305 tons last year.
During the same period, the amount of cargo going from ports to foreign ports increased by 0.4% compared to the previous year, reaching 142 million 784 thousand 2 tons.
The amount of cargo arriving at ports from foreign ports was calculated to have increased by 5.6% compared to the previous year, totaling 271 million 632 thousand 303 tons.
The statistics for the types and weights of vessels passing through the straits last year are as follows:
1) Traffic count: Çanakkale leads. In terms of the number of vessels, the Çanakkale Strait has surpassed Istanbul. 44,468 vessels → Çanakkale 40,172 vessels → Istanbul
This is not surprising because every vessel heading to the Aegean first passes through Çanakkale. Istanbul, on the other hand, remains limited to traffic connected to the Black Sea.
2) But tonnage tells a completely different story. The difference in total tonnage is even greater:
Çanakkale: 966 million GT
Istanbul: 619 million GT
This means that not only more vessels but also larger vessels are passing through Çanakkale. Especially crude oil tankers and large bulk carriers contribute to this result.
3) The pilotage rate is noteworthy. Total vessels passed: 84,640 Vessels that received pilotage: 48,579
Approximate calculation: 57% of the vessels passing through the straits receive pilot captains.
This rate is still considered low for one of the most challenging natural waterways in the world, such as Istanbul.
4) Types of cargo show us the trade map. General cargo: still the most intense category. Bulk cargo: energy and raw material transportation (coal, grain, ore). Container: particularly indicates the growth of Black Sea–Mediterranean routes.
The most critical data: Container ships are significantly more numerous in Çanakkale than in Istanbul. This indicates an increased integration of Black Sea ports (Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia) with Mediterranean routes.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
