Turkiye has positioned itself as a major transshipment hub, leveraging its strategic location and investments in port infrastructure to facilitate the movement of agricultural goods across the globe. According to a recent report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Turkiye’s role in the global transshipment of agricultural products, including oilseeds, grains, and pulses, has seen unprecedented growth over the last decade.
“Over the last decade, with investments in domestic port infrastructure and storage and owing to Turkiye’s deeper integration in regional and global trade networks, the country has become a major hub for transshipped agricultural products, such as oilseeds, grain, pulses, tree nuts, and juice,” the report highlighted. These products originated from a diverse range of countries, including Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and Argentina. The diversity of sources underscores Turkiye’s role as a global crossroads for agricultural commodities. “Turkiye’s transshipment trade has a bright future ahead and is expected to keep growing,” the USDA projected.
In 2022, the value of transshipped agricultural products through Turkiye soared to an estimated record of $4 billion, nearly double the levels reported in 2019 and 2020. This remarkable growth underscores Turkiye’s emergence as a pivotal player in the global agricultural trade network. However, the report notes that in 2023, the value of transshipments experienced a slight decline, estimated at $3.8 billion. Despite this minor dip, Turkiye's transshipment trade is expected to continue its upward trajectory.
“Over the last decade, with the development of a sophisticated network of seaports and adjoining storage facilities, Turkiye has become a major transshipment hub for third-country agricultural products going to markets in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. At the same time, Turkiye has likewise become a global giant in the re-export business, especially in flour and pasta made from Russian and Ukrainian wheat,” the report highlighted.
The dramatic increase in the volume of transshipments through Turkiye is attributed to significant investments in the country’s port infrastructure and storage facilities. “Over the last decade, the volume of transshipments has grown in parallel with the expansion in Turkiye’s logistical infrastructure and increased Black Sea capacity to export grain and oilseeds. From 2013-2023, transshipments of these bulk commodities increased five times from about 500,000 metric tons to 2.5 million metric tons,” the USDA noted.
The report also points to recent global conflicts and geopolitical uncertainty as factors that have enhanced Turkiye’s role in transshipment. “In the last couple years, with the war in Ukraine and uncertainty in the Black Sea, Turkiye has become an even more important transshipment hub for oilseeds and grains from both Russia and Ukraine. Recent troubles in the Red Sea have also reinforced Turkiye as a center for handling transshipped cargoes going to the Middle East and Africa.”
Looking to the future, the USDA is optimistic about the continued growth of Turkiye’s transshipment trade. “The value and volume of transshipments are set to expand as Turkiye has positioned itself as a critical trade linkage in the Trans-Caspian East-West-Middle Corridor and China’s Belt & Road Initiative. Turkiye’s integral connection within these trade networks builds upon the country’s historical legacy as the crossroads of trade between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East” the report concluded.