At the July council meeting of the IMEAK Chamber of Shipping (DTO) Izmir Branch, Yusuf Öztürk, President of the DTO Izmir Branch, stated that the decline of Izmir Port is due to many factors, including its location within the city, operators, depth, and vehicle parking, but emphasized that the most significant challenge is operational deficiencies. Öztürk noted that in the first six months of this year, bulk cargo handling decreased by 13.5% compared to the same period last year, reaching 3.45 million tons, and projected that the year-end total would not exceed 8 million tons.
Evaluating container handling figures, Öztürk pointed out an 8% decline in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year, adding, “Currently, we are at around 116,000 TEUs, and I don’t know if we’ll reach 200,000 by year-end. In the past, Izmir Port used to handle 900,000 TEUs.”
Citing examples of agencies operating in both Aliağa and Izmir, Öztürk said, “I face many difficulties in Izmir, but Aliağa is hassle-free. Aliağa has digitalization. Izmir Port has not been able to digitalize. If we want the port to regain its former strength, we must address these operational shortcomings.”
“Cruises contribute to the country, Izmir, and the maritime sector”
Öztürk stated that the cruise sector grows by about 10-15% annually, saying, “No other sector grows at this rate. The changing tourism mindset is one of the key reasons for this.” He noted that the panel on the cruise sector at the Turkey 4th Maritime Summit, organized by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, signaled that opportunities for cruises have opened up. “We discussed how Turkey can secure a larger share of this market. Cruise passengers don’t just visit historical sites—they bring significant contributions to the country, Izmir, and the maritime sector.”
Reminding that Turkey has 1,329 ships over 5,000 gross tons, Öztürk stressed that many of these vessels need to be equipped with alternative fuels. “We have nearly 85 shipyards for this. All shipyards are technically capable, but it’s not enough. Efforts and incentives are underway to renew and modernize Turkey’s maritime fleet. We are closely monitoring this because it will benefit our shipyards, rejuvenate our fleet, and ensure younger, more efficient ships operate in the Mediterranean and Black Sea basins.”
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