Economic Slowdown Hits İzmir's Ports: Container Traffic Sees Sharp Decline
As Turkey's economy slows, major ports in İzmir face steep declines in container traffic. Aliağa and Alsancak terminals saw double-digit drops in TEU volume in early 2025, highlighting broader challenges in trade and maritime logistics.
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Economic Slowdown Hits İzmir's Ports: Container Traffic Sees Sharp Decline
YEREL GÜNDEM / IZMIR
Aliağa Ports Record Over 13% Drop in Container Volume
As Turkey grapples with a deepening economic slowdown, the impacts are being felt across consumption, exports, industrial production, and finance—with maritime logistics now taking a visible hit. Between January and May 2025, Turkish ports handled 5.8 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) of container traffic, marking a modest 3% increase compared to the same period last year. However, the ports of Aliağa in İzmir have bucked this trend with a significant decline.
According to data released by the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the three major container ports operating in Nemrut Bay, Aliağa, processed only 752,000 TEUs in the first five months of 2025—down from 868,000 TEUs in the same period of 2024. This represents a year-on-year drop of over 13%. In May alone, the ports experienced a 12% decline in throughput.
Alsancak State Port Continues to Bleed Traffic
Alsancak Port, operated by the Turkish State Railways (TCDD) and the only state-run container terminal in the country, also reported falling volumes. While 108,000 TEUs were handled between January and May of last year, the number fell to 95,000 TEUs this year, reflecting a 12% decrease.
Other Turkish Ports Show Mixed Signals
In contrast, ports located in Istanbul’s Ambarlı and Kocaeli regions reported increased container volumes over the same five-month period. The Port of Mersin, a key hub on the Mediterranean coast, maintained a stable trend without significant gains or losses.
The regional discrepancy in port activity raises concerns over the underlying economic indicators, particularly the decline in export-oriented industrial production centered in western Anatolia. With İzmir's ports acting as key gateways for containerized goods, the downward trend reflects broader trade and demand issues within Turkey’s economy.
