Over forty thousand vessels passed through Turkish straits during the initial half of the year.
The Turkish Straits, a critical waterway in Türkiye connecting Asia and Europe, and a vital global trade route, witnessed a surge in vessel traffic during the first half of 2025.
In the Istanbul Strait, also known as the Bosphorus, around 19,381 ships transited, contributing to a combined total of nearly 41,000 ships passing through the Turkish Straits (both Istanbul and Canakkale Straits) in the same period.
Key statistics and trends reveal that over 14,000 general cargo ships, 7,278 bulk carriers, and 5,294 container ships used the Turkish Straits, carrying over 754.6 million gross tons of cargo during this period.
Ship calls at Turkish ports remained steady, with approximately 29,444 calls in the first half of 2025. Of these, 9,880 ships were Turkish-flagged, and 19,564 were foreign-flagged.
The port of Marmara saw 734 domestic vessels, while İskenderun port in the East Mediterranean had 1,788 foreign ships. The southwestern port of Aliağa had 2,240 foreign and 835 domestic ships, and Kocaeli's port received 1,295 Turkish and 3,269 foreign-flagged ships. The port of Mersin in southern Türkiye had 1,631 foreign-flagged vessels. The Ambarıi port in the northwest received 800 Turkish-flagged ships.
Comparing recent annual data, from 2018 to 2023, the overall number of ship transits through the Turkish Straits showed a slight decline, from around 85,000 in 2018 to approximately 83,900 in 2023. This suggests some variability but stable high traffic overall.
However, temporary interruptions can occur due to specific events, such as the halt in maritime traffic in August 2025 due to the passage of a giant oil rig ("Scarabeo 9") and an oil tanker breakdown.
The Turkish Straits, consisting of the Istanbul and Çanakkale Straits, are among the world’s busiest and most strategic maritime corridors, linking the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, and thereby connecting Europe and Asia. Traffic volumes reflect the strait’s critical role in regional and global trade, especially for energy transit, bulk cargos, and container shipments.
In summary, while the Turkish Straits have seen some slight fluctuations in annual ship numbers over recent years, there was a significant surge in vessel transits in the first half of 2025, reflecting growing maritime activity and the strait's ongoing importance as a major global shipping route.
Finance databases reveal a substantial increase in revenue generated from shipping activity within the Turkish Straits during the first half of 2025, attributed to the surge in vessel traffic. The transportation industry also witnessed a corresponding rise, as illustrated by the increased number of ships using the straits for trade.
