Turkiye’s logistics and transportation sector service exports, which were $36.6 billion at the end of 2022, are targeted to reach $40 billion in the next period.
According to the information compiled by AA correspondent from the “Foreign Trade Logistics” report of the Ministry of Commerce, Turkiye, which is a regional center between continents and located on the transit corridor of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, is in a position to become one of the most important logistics bases in the world.
Turkiye is considered among the countries that will benefit most economically from the global developments in the sector. Consolidating logistics services on the transport corridors passing through Turkiye on the east-west and north-south axis, expanding the scales and establishing transfer centers for intermodal transportation (transporting cargoes with more than one type of transportation) are among the country’s global goals.
Due to its strategic location, the country offers access to many markets with wide foreign trade volume. Turkiye’s advantageous geographical location, which provides easy access to Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, enables it to function as a base for transportation activities in the region.
Big investments make transportation easier
While very important projects are being implemented for the development of the logistics sector in Turkiye, studies in this field are continuing. Developments such as Istanbul Airport, Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, Osmangazi Bridge, Marmaray, 1915 Canakkale Bridge, infrastructure investments such as Baku-Tbilisi-Kars train line, high-speed train systems, Turkiye Logistics Master Plan studies, liberalization of rail transport and the works carried out under the Trade Facilitation Agreement play a role in facilitating national and international transportation activities.
The main objective of the transportation-infrastructure investments and expenditures of approximately $183 billion in the last 20 years has been determined as making Turkiye a logistics base and providing a fast and uninterrupted connection between Asia and Europe.
The logistics sector is important for Turkiye
The share of the logistics and transportation sector in Turkiye’s service exports continues to increase each year. $36.6 billion of the $90.5 billion of service exports in 2022 was realized in the logistics and transportation services sector. This ratio reveals the importance of the logistics sector for the country. In the coming period, it is aimed to increase this amount further and reach the level of $40 billion.
The support provided by the Ministry also has a great impact on the development of the said sector. Until the end of 2022, approximately $2.7 million of support was provided to the logistics and transportation services sector within the scope of general supports, and approximately $447 million of support was provided within the scope of the Turquality Support Program.
When the foreign trade data is evaluated in terms of transportation modes, in 2022, maritime transport took the first place for export shipments. 59.1% of a total export of $254.2 billion -was made by sea. Road took the second place with 31%, and airway took the third place with 8.1%, the rate of railway was 1%. The share of other transports was determined as 0.8%.
The sector needs to be restructured within the scope of green transformation
The European Green Agreement announced by the European Union also has implications for the logistics and transportation sector. Here, it is important to transport products produced with low emissions and energy in vehicles with the lowest possible emissions. This situation requires the restructuring of the logistics and transportation sector.
Some of the targets set for the transport sector within the scope of the European Green Deal are as follows:
“A sustainable and smart mobility strategy will be adopted, environmentally friendly vehicles and alternative fuels (biodiesel, bioethanol) will be supported. Investment will be focused on low and zero-emission vehicles. Transportation models that pollute the environment will be highlighted. 75% of the transport by road will be transferred to railways and inland waterways. It will aim to reduce aviation emissions.”
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz