TOP TEN CONTAINER PORTS OF TURKEY – 2018*

As it is known, Turkey’s transshipment cargo in ports is concentrated in Ambarli region and the ports in the region have the highest volume compared to the other regions of Turkey. Consequently, the total throughput of Ambarli ( Marport-Kumport-Marda?) region with Asyaport (Tekirdag) comprises approximately 41% of the total throughput of Turkey in 2018.  [By the way, transshipment traffic is counted as two lifts at the intermediate port (once to off-load and again as an outbound lift) and includes empty units]

In 2017, Marport was number one, among Turkey's top container handling ports in terms of TEU. However, in 2018 for the first time in its history, Mersin Port became Turkey's number one port. The real reason behind this unexpected rise of Mersin port can be explained as follows:

Due to the proximity of the terminals within the Ambarli region and volatile market conditions, in the recent years there was a fierce competition. Moreover, in 2018, Kumport challenged the inter-terminal competition regional balances and led to a sharp division of the total cargo volume within the region. Kumport's volume increase was 18.34 % in 2018 compared to the previous year, leading to an 8% decrease in Marport's volume in the same year.

Other reason was the emergence of Asya Port. As the subsidiary company of MSC , the port operator TiL entered the market with a huge capacity and the liner advantage. Within three years, Asya Port handled and captured more than 1 million TEU in the market.

Due to the steep rise of Kumport throughput in Ambarl? region, and transshipment appetite of Asya Port, Mersin Port ranked number one in 2018 despite its throughput increase of only 8.21% which is slightly under the country average. 

When we have a look at the other top ten ports; 

• Marda? has lost its place in top ten ports in 2018
•  Nemport become 10th among the others (replaced Marda?)
• DP world Yarimca has a record increase rate 31.76% of y-o-y throughput
• Evyap port has 25 % cargo increase (bounced back)
• Nemport has 25 % cargo increase in 2018
• Kumport –Asyaport-Izmir Alsancak Portand Evyap port : they kept their places among top 10  ports in Turkey

*Data source: Turklim and Directorate General of Maritime Commerce reports.