Record Cargo Handling Achieved at Turkish Ports in February

Turkey's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, announced that February 2026 saw a record-breaking cargo handling volume at the country's ports, with a total of 43,881,863 tons processed. This figure marks the highest amount ever recorded for the month of February.

In a written statement regarding the statistics prepared by the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs, Uraloğlu highlighted the ongoing efforts to increase Turkey's share in maritime trade. He noted that the total cargo handled at ports during the January-February period reached 88,343,147 tons, reflecting a positive trend in the sector.

Uraloğlu also reported that the number of containers handled reached 1,157,303 TEUs, the highest figure for February since 2024, representing a 13.9% increase compared to the same month last year. For the January-February period, the total number of containers handled was 2,238,224 TEUs, indicating a 3% growth year-on-year.

The Minister pointed out that in February, 10,542,469 tons of cargo were shipped from Turkey to foreign ports, while 22,117,589 tons arrived from abroad, marking an 8.5% increase from the previous year. Additionally, total foreign cargo transport increased by 6% to 32,660,058 tons during the same month.

Uraloğlu identified the Aliağa Region Port Authority as the leader in cargo handling for February, processing 7,349,150 tons, followed by Kocaeli and İskenderun with 6,567,067 tons and 5,348,953 tons, respectively. He also noted that transit cargo via sea routes amounted to 5,561,761 tons, while cabotage transport reached 5,660,044 tons.

The Minister concluded by sharing insights on the types of cargo transported, with a significant increase in the handling of 40-foot containers, which saw a rise of 441,407 tons from the previous month. Notably, Portland cement was the most exported cargo, totaling 980,160 tons, followed by aluminum ore and feldspar.