In the first eight months of 2026, Turkish ports handled 369.8 million tons of cargo, with container throughput reaching 9.57 million TEU.
In Turkish ports, the amount of cargo handled during the January-August period of 2026 approached 369.8 million tons. During the same period, the container handling volume reached 9.57 million TEU, while the cargo traffic in the ports exceeded the levels recorded in the same period last year.
Turkish ports maintained strong cargo traffic in the first eight months of the year despite geopolitical and logistical uncertainties in global maritime trade.
According to data announced by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, the total amount of cargo handled in Turkish ports during the January-August period of 2026 reached 369 million 790 thousand tons. Thus, the cargo volume exceeded the levels recorded in the same period last year.
During the same period, the amount of containers handled in the ports was recorded at 9.57 million TEU.
The amount of containerized cargo reached a level of 98.76 million tons. The data revealed that Turkish ports maintained a high volume in both transit trade and import-export transportation.
When examining the types of cargo, 112.66 million tons of liquid bulk cargo was handled in the ports during the January-August period.
The general cargo amount was recorded at 45.26 million tons. Thus, energy products, petroleum derivatives, and other liquid cargoes continued to constitute a significant portion of the total cargo movement in Turkish ports.
The performance of Turkish ports in the first half of the year also indicated growth. The amount of cargo handled during the January-June period increased by 1.5% compared to the same period last year, reaching 279 million 112 thousand tons, while the container amount increased by 1.3% to 7 million 24 thousand 951 TEU.
In June alone, 46.91 million tons of cargo and 1.19 million TEU of containers were handled, while in April, the cargo volume reached a historic record level of 48.2 million tons for that month.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that investments in port infrastructure are ongoing, emphasizing that Turkey's capacity in maritime trade continues to be enhanced.
Uraloğlu expressed that strengthening the ports that contribute to Turkey's production and exports and increasing maritime trade capacity is one of the primary goals.
The General Directorate of Maritime Affairs' cargo and container statistics for August 2026 were also published on September 10. Official data shows that Turkish ports continued to operate intensively throughout 2026 despite uncertainties in the Black Sea, Mediterranean, and global trade routes.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
