April Record at Turkish Ports

Minister Uraloğlu evaluated the April 2026 statistics prepared by the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs. He stated that they continue their efforts for Turkey to gain a larger share of maritime trade, adding: “In our ports, we handled 48,230,930 tons of cargo and 1,179,454 TEU containers in April, breaking the all-time record among April months. The amount of containers handled in ports during the said month increased by 7.6% compared to the same month of last year.”

Uraloğlu reported that in the four-month period covering January–April, the amount of cargo handled increased by 2.1% compared to the same period of 2025, reaching 185,600,883 tons, while the container amount increased by 2.4% to 4,550,209 TEU.

Foreign cargo shipments increased by 8.3% in April

Uraloğlu noted that the amount of cargo sent from ports to foreign ports in April was 11,636,276 tons, and said: “The amount of cargo arriving at our ports from foreign ports increased by 11.1% compared to the same month of last year, reaching 24,186,253 tons. In April, foreign cargo shipments increased by 8.3% compared to the same month of last year, reaching 35,822,529 tons.”

İskenderun Regional Port Authority at the top

On a regional basis, Uraloğlu stated that the highest cargo handling in April was realized at port facilities operating within the administrative boundaries of İskenderun Regional Port Authority, with 7,064,571 tons. He added: “İskenderun Regional Port Authority was followed by Kocaeli Regional Port Authority with 6,930,244 tons and Aliağa Regional Port Authority with 6,920,524 tons.”

Uraloğlu said that in April, transit cargo transported by sea at ports amounted to 5,724,594 tons, while the amount of cargo carried in cabotage was 6,683,807 tons.

The cargo type with the highest increase: iron ore and concentrates

Uraloğlu stated that, with an increase of 498,957 tons compared to the previous month, the cargo type showing the highest increase in April was iron ore and concentrates, and reported that 1,469,277 tons of iron ore and concentrates were handled at ports. He added: “In April, Portland cement, with 1,176,648 tons, was the most transported cargo type from our ports abroad by ships. This cargo type was followed by clinker and feldspar. Crude oil, with 2,295,648 tons, ranked first among the cargoes transported by ships arriving at our ports from abroad. This was followed by hard coal (not agglomerated) and scrap iron.”

Most cargo came from Russia

Uraloğlu stated that in terms of cargo loaded for shipment abroad by sea, the highest cargo transportation was to Italy, followed by shipments to the USA and Egypt. He also reported that the highest amount of cargo arriving at ports by sea came from Russia.