DTO Aliağa Branch Holds February Assembly Meeting

The agenda included the 2025 annual performance of Aliağa ports, January 2026 port statistics, sectoral developments, and educational support initiatives.

The meeting was attended by Aliağa Coast Guard Commander Lieutenant Tugay Peker, Aliağa Regional Port President Günhur Şanlı, Aliağa Port Police Chief Kadir Sonocak, and Aliaport Port Services Inc. Director Faruk Altun. After the approval of the December balance sheet and the February activity report, Chairman Adem Şimşek shared his evaluations.

Remembering the February 6 Earthquakes

Şimşek began his speech by commemorating those who lost their lives in the February 6, 2023 earthquakes:

Support for Maritime Education

Şimşek emphasized the branch’s ongoing support for education:

Aliağa Ports’ 2025 Performance

Şimşek highlighted Aliağa’s strong national position:

• Ship traffic: 6,224 calls in 2025, up 2.27% from 2024.

• Long‑term trend: Ship arrivals increased 24.9% between 2011 and 2025.

• Regional comparison: İzmir Port received 1,337 ships (down 12.56%), while Dikili Port saw 304 calls (up 60%).

Cargo Handling Leadership

• Net tonnage: 88.7 million tons in 2025, a 3.8% rise.

• Loading: 35.9 million tons, up 4.84%.

• Unloading: 52.8 million tons, up 3.1%.

Aliağa maintained leadership in both loading and unloading.

Export and Import Growth

• Exports rose 288% in 20 years, reaching 35.9 million tons.

• Aliağa Customs increased export value from $12.6 billion in 2020 to $21.8 billion in 2025 (+72.5%).

• Imports tripled in 20 years, reaching 52.8 million tons.

• Import value rose to $13.5 billion in 2025, ranking 8th among customs offices.

National Share

• Aliağa accounted for 8% of Turkey’s total exports in 2025.

• Turkey’s overall foreign trade reached $638 billion, with $35.3 billion (5.5%) handled through Aliağa.

Container Traffic

• 1.7 million TEUs handled in 2025, down 19.7% year‑on‑year.

• Aliağa ranked 5th nationwide.

January 2026 Statistics

• Container traffic: 119,146 TEUs, down 24.6%.

• Gross tonnage: 10.17 million tons, down 5%.

• Net tonnage: 7.41 million tons, down 3.27%, but still leading.

• Loading: 2.64 million tons, down 9.85%.

• Unloading: 4.78 million tons, up 0.8%, maintaining leadership.

• Ship traffic: 460 calls, down 11.9% from January 2025.

Şimşek concluded by extending greetings for the start of Ramadan:

At the end of the meeting, plaques and certificates of appreciation were presented to member agencies with the highest transaction volumes. The session closed with wishes and remarks from participants.