Türkiye’s Ports Among the World’s Top Container Hubs in 2024-2025
Türkiye continues to strengthen its role in international trade by expanding its maritime capabilities. According to the 2025 edition of Lloyd’s List ranking of the “Top 100 Container Ports in the World”, five Turkish ports secured key positions, reflecting both growth and long-term strategic potential.
Turkish Ports in Global Rankings
The five ports representing Türkiye in the global list ranked as follows:
- Ambarlı Port: 72nd
- Kocaeli Port: 86th
- Aliağa Port: 91st
- Tekirdağ Port: 94th
- Mersin Port: 98th
Aliağa entered the list for the first time, highlighting the port’s rapid growth and Türkiye’s expanding maritime logistics capacity. Ambarlı remains the regional leader, serving as a central hub for Istanbul-driven trade flows.
Container Handling Performance
In 2024, total container handling in Türkiye reached 13.5 million TEU. An impressive 84.1% of this—equal to 11.4 million TEU—was processed through these five major ports. This distribution showcases how concentrated and efficient the country’s port infrastructure has become.
Aliağa Port stood out with a remarkable 33.6% increase in activity, reaching 2.1 million TEU. This growth reflects targeted infrastructure investments and stronger integration with regional trade networks.
Latest Trends in 2025
Although Türkiye’s ports have maintained strong global positions, early 2025 data shows slight fluctuations. In April 2025, container handling decreased by 3% compared to the same month in 2024, totaling 1,096,362 TEU. For the January-April 2025 period, overall handling reached 4,451,227 TEU, marking a 0.7% decline year-on-year.
The short-term dip points to global trade pressures but does not overshadow Türkiye’s long-term growth trajectory in shipping and logistics.
Strategic Significance for International Entrepreneurs
For businesses engaged in global trade, Türkiye’s prominence in the global port rankings carries several benefits:
- geostrategic location: Türkiye strengthens its position as a bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa, offering optimal access to multiple markets
- port specialization: Ambarlı plays a critical role for trade around Istanbul, while Mersin and Kocaeli are strategically positioned to serve Mediterranean and industrial trade flows
- growth opportunities: the 33.6% surge in Aliağa indicates untapped potential in the Aegean region, where new partnerships and investments can scale rapidly
- operational concentration: with 84% of Türkiye’s container traffic managed by five ports, entrepreneurs can efficiently focus on these hubs for logistics planning
Investing in Türkiye’s Maritime Future
The inclusion of five ports in the Lloyd’s List Top 100 illustrates Türkiye’s rising significance in global logistics. As highlighted by industry leaders, this achievement confirms that Türkiye is not only a transit country but also a reliable logistics partner. For international entrepreneurs, the ongoing modernization of Türkiye’s ports represents substantial opportunity for investment, collaboration, and expansion in one of the world’s fastest-growing logistics markets.
To explore business opportunities in Türkiye’s maritime and logistics sector, visit the official investment portal of Türkiye or connect with leading regional chambers of commerce.