Container handling volume exceeded 12.5 million TEUs

Despite the global container crisis, the volume of containers handled at Turkish ports increased by 8.3% in 2021 to reach 12 million 591 thousand TEU. Reviewing the 2021 container and cargo data, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu recalled that the container crisis was among the many problems experienced during the global pandemic period. Karaismailoğlu noted that despite this crisis affecting the world, Turkey was not impacted thanks to investments made in the maritime domain. Karaismailoğlu stated: "In 2021, the volume of containers handled at our ports increased by 8.3% compared to the previous year, reaching 12 million 591 thousand 470 TEU. Looking at the December figures, the volume of containers handled at our ports increased by 2.5% compared to the same month of the previous year and reached 1 million 80 thousand 241 TEU. The highest container handling took place within the administrative boundaries of Ambarlı Port Authority. A total of 253 thousand 725 TEU of containers were handled at port facilities operating within the administrative boundaries of Ambarlı Port Authority. Ambarlı Port Authority was followed by Mersin Port Authority with 167 thousand 927 TEU and Kocaeli Port Authority with 167 thousand 317 TEU. The highest container handling took place in shipments to Israel. Israel was followed by shipments to Greece and Egypt. The largest container loading for export purposes by sea consisted of containers bound for Spain with 42 thousand 42 TEU."

Handled cargo volume increased

Karaismailoğlu reported that the volume of cargo handled at ports in 2021 reached 526 million 306 thousand tons with a 6% increase. Pointing out that the total volume of cargo handled in maritime transport for foreign trade reached 386 million 396 thousand 718 tons with a 5.7% increase, Karaismailoğlu said that the port facility with the highest cargo handling in 2021 was MIP Mersin Port with 33 million 46 thousand 940 tons. Karaismailoğlu noted that 6.28% of the total cargo handled in Turkey was processed at Mersin Port. In December, the Transport Minister Karaismailoğlu reported that the volume of cargo handled at ports increased by 8% compared to the same month of the previous year to reach 47 million 857 thousand tons, and drew attention to the fact that the highest cargo handling took place at Aliağa Port Authority, followed by Kocaeli and İskenderun Port Authorities.

Italy leads the way

Providing information about the types of cargo handled, Karaismailoğlu stated: "In the last month of 2021, 8 million 3 thousand 144 tons of crude oil was handled at our ports. Crude oil, with an increase of 866 thousand tons, was the cargo type with the largest increase in handling compared to the previous month. Crude oil was followed by coke and semi-coke coal and diesel cargo types. The cargo type most exported by sea was clinker. Italy was the leading export destination. In imports, Russia ranked first," he said. Transport Minister Karaismailoğlu stated: "We called our seas the Blue Homeland and are highlighting our country's identity as a 'Maritime Nation.' The number of our ports increased from 149 in 2002 to 217, and the number of shipyards increased from 37 to 84. Our annual ship production capacity in shipyards has increased from 550 thousand deadweight tons to 4.65 million deadweight tons, and our domestic content ratio has reached 60%. Our country ranks third in the world in mega yacht production," he said.