Over 84,000 Ships Passed Through Turkish Straits in 2025
Despite transformations in global trade, the Istanbul and Çanakkale straits witnessed the passage of a total of 84,640 ships last year.
In 2025, when new U.S. customs tariffs imposed on many countries reshaped global trade balances, the Turkish straits maintained their strategic position in international maritime traffic. The Istanbul and Çanakkale straits hosted the safe passage of tens of thousands of vessels.
The number of ships passing through Turkey’s key maritime routes reached 84,640 last year. Of these, 40,172 transited the Istanbul Strait, while 44,468 passed through the Çanakkale Strait.
When categorized by type, 28,594 were general cargo ships, 15,559 were bulk carriers, and 10,659 were container ships. During the same period, the total gross tonnage of vessels passing through the straits was recorded at 1.5853 billion, while 48,579 ships used pilotage services.
Increase in Freight Transport by Sea
International freight transport by sea rose by 3.8% compared to the previous year, reaching 414,416,305 tons. In the same period, the amount of cargo shipped from Turkish ports to foreign ports increased by 0.4% to 142,784,002 tons.
Meanwhile, the volume of cargo arriving at Turkish ports from foreign ports grew by 5.6%, reaching 271,632,303 tons. These figures highlight the continuing importance of maritime transport in Turkey’s foreign trade.
