TR Prefix and Three-Character Structure
The first two characters identify Turkey in the UN/LOCODE system. The following three characters identify the registered location, such as TRMER for Mersin or TRAMB for Ambarli.
Seaports in Turkey: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Turkey has 94 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database and serves as a strategic maritime gateway between Europe, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Central Asia.
Explore Turkey port codes, container gateways, regional cargo clusters and international shipping options.
Turkey Port Overview
Turkey has port facilities on the Aegean, Mediterranean, Black Sea and Sea of Marmara. The country’s port system supports container shipping, ro-ro, project cargo, dry bulk, liquid bulk and regional feeder services. Indexed coverage and league-table throughput are separate measures: the figures below combine Ecer Freight database coverage with publicly reported national indicators.
94
Turkey ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
531.7m
National port cargo handled in 2024, all cargo types
MOT 2024 maritime statistics
13.0m
Container throughput in 2024, approximately TEU; year-on-year direction varies by port
MOT 2024 maritime statistics
—
National berth total for 2025; no single consistently reported public series identified
MOT · 2025 data review
How many seaports does Turkey have?
Turkey has 94 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight as of the November 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed coverage figure, not a statutory count of every maritime facility in Turkey.
Which ports are among Turkey’s largest container gateways?
Ambarli, Mersin, Izmit and Izmir are among Turkey’s leading container gateways, while Gemlik and Tekirdag are also important cargo clusters. Ecer Freight records Ambarli as TRAMB, Mersin as TRMER and Izmir as TRALI.
Which regions handle the main maritime cargo flows?
The Sea of Marmara and Aegean regions handle major industrial and container flows, while Mersin and Iskenderun connect southern Turkey with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern markets. Black Sea gateways such as Samsun and Trabzon serve regional and hinterland cargo.
Top Ports in Turkey
The ports below are selected from the highest-activity Turkey records in the Ecer Freight database. A consolidated, consistently comparable 2025 port-by-port TEU league table was not available in the reviewed public sources at the November 2026 snapshot; therefore, unverified rank, throughput and year-on-year values are not presented as facts.
Selected high-activity Turkey port records; 2025 comparable TEU figures require confirmation from the relevant terminal or authority.
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Izmir | TRALI | — | — | Aegean |
| — | Mersin | TRMER | — | — | Mediterranean |
| — | Haydarpasa | TRHAY | — | — | Sea of Marmara |
| — | Gemlik | TRGEM | — | — | Sea of Marmara |
| — | Ambarli | TRAMB | — | — | Sea of Marmara |
| — | Kumport | TRKMX | — | — | Sea of Marmara |
| — | Izmit | TRIZT | — | — | Sea of Marmara |
| — | Iskenderun | TRISK | — | — | Mediterranean |
Turkey Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Turkey’s maritime network is best understood through its coastal economic clusters. Port selection depends on the cargo origin, final inland destination, vessel schedule, equipment availability and customs requirements.
Sea of Marmara and Istanbul
The Istanbul and Marmara cluster is Turkey’s principal intermodal and industrial gateway, serving the largest metropolitan market and manufacturing belt.
Selected ports and terminals in the Istanbul and Marmara cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambarli | TRAMB | Istanbul | Containers, ro-ro and regional distribution |
| Kumport | TRKMX | Istanbul | Container handling and liner services |
| Haydarpasa | TRHAY | Istanbul | Port and urban logistics services |
| Gemlik | TRGEM | Gemlik | Containers, vehicles and industrial cargo |
| Izmit | TRIZT | Izmit | Industrial, container and bulk cargo |
| Derince | TRDER | — | Ro-ro, bulk and industrial cargo |
| Tekirdag | TRTEK | Tekirdag | Containers, grain and regional cargo |
| Asyaport | TRASY | Tekirdag | Deep-sea container services |
Aegean Coast
Aegean ports connect western Turkey’s manufacturing, agricultural and automotive hinterlands with Mediterranean and European services.
Selected Aegean ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Izmir | TRALI | Izmir | Containers, general cargo and regional exports |
| Izmir | TRIZM | Izmir | Port and terminal operations in the Izmir area |
| Nemrut Bay | TRNEM | Nemrut Bay | Industrial and container cargo |
| Bandirma | TRBAN | Bandirma | Bulk, agricultural and general cargo |
| Kusadasi | TRKUS | Kusadasi | Passenger, cruise and local cargo services |
| Dikili | TRDIK | Dikili | Bulk and regional cargo |
Mediterranean Coast
Mediterranean gateways support southern Turkey, inland manufacturing regions and trade with the Levant, North Africa and other Mediterranean markets.
Selected Mediterranean ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mersin | TRMER | Mersin | Containers, general cargo and regional hub services |
| Iskenderun | TRISK | Iskenderun | Containers, steel, project and bulk cargo |
| Antalya | TRANT | Antalya | General, agricultural and passenger cargo |
| Dortyol | TRDOR | Dortyol | Liquid bulk, energy and industrial cargo |
| Tasucu | TRTAS | Tasucu | Ro-ro, project and regional cargo |
Black Sea Coast
Black Sea ports serve domestic hinterlands and short-sea links to surrounding markets, with cargo mixes that include agricultural products, bulk commodities and general cargo.
Selected Black Sea ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsun | TRSAM | Samsun | Bulk, agricultural and general cargo |
| Samsun | TRSSX | Samsun | Regional commercial and bulk cargo |
| Trabzon | TRTRA | Trabzon | General cargo and regional trade |
| Trabzon | TRTZX | Trabzon | Port and regional cargo services |
| Giresun | TRGIR | Giresun | Bulk, agricultural and general cargo |
| Hopa | TRHOP | Hopa | Regional and border-area cargo |
Turkey Port Codes and UN-LOCODEs
Turkey port identifiers normally use the TR country prefix followed by a three-character location code. A code should be checked against the current carrier booking system, terminal instructions and customs documentation before shipment release.
City-Level and Terminal-Level Records
A city-level port record and a terminal-level record may appear separately in operational databases. This is why Istanbul, Izmir, Samsun and other locations can have multiple records or terminal references.
How to Verify a Port Code
Compare the code with the UNECE UN/LOCODE source and the Ecer Freight port directory. Carrier schedules and terminal booking instructions should be used for the final operational confirmation.
Shipping from Turkey: Main Trade Lanes
Turkey’s shipping patterns reflect its position between European, Mediterranean, Black Sea, Middle Eastern and global supply chains. Transit times are indicative and depend on the port pair, service rotation, transshipment, equipment and customs clearance.
Turkey to Northern Europe
Container services from Marmara and Aegean gateways connect Turkish manufacturers with Northern European distribution networks.
Turkey to Mediterranean and North Africa
Mersin, Iskenderun and western Turkish ports support short-sea and feeder connections across the Mediterranean.
Turkey to the Black Sea
Black Sea services link northern Turkish ports with regional markets, often through scheduled short-sea or feeder operations.
Turkey to the Middle East and Asia
Southern and Marmara gateways provide access to Middle Eastern markets and longer-haul Asian services, frequently with transshipment.
Data Sources and Methodology
The page separates first-party indexed coverage from official national indicators and port-level operational data. Figures are shown only when the source and measurement basis can be stated clearly.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party coverage of 94 Turkey port and terminal records, database snapshot November 2026.
- Türkiye Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure — national maritime cargo and container indicators, with the latest reviewed complete series identified as 2024/2025 releases.
- Turkish Statistical Institute — supporting national transport and trade statistics where applicable.
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference framework.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — nautical and geographic reference material used for location cross-checking.
Turkey Port FAQ
How many seaports does Turkey have?
Turkey has 94 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the November 2026 database snapshot. The number represents indexed records and should not be treated as a statutory count of every maritime facility.
What is the largest or busiest port in Turkey?
What is the UN/LOCODE prefix for Turkey?
The UN/LOCODE country prefix for Turkey is TR. Examples in the Ecer Freight directory include TRALI for Izmir, TRMER for Mersin and TRAMB for Ambarli.
Which Turkish port regions are important for container shipping?
The Sea of Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean clusters are particularly important for container shipping. The Black Sea region provides additional short-sea, bulk and regional cargo capacity.
Are the port throughput figures current for 2026?
The page was reviewed in November 2026. The latest complete national indicators available for comparison may relate to 2024 or 2025, while terminal-level figures can be released on different schedules. Current vessel schedules and terminal data should be confirmed before booking.
Can Ecer Freight provide a Turkey sea-freight quotation?
FCL and LCL quotation requests can be submitted through the relevant rate-search pages. A valid quotation normally depends on origin, destination, cargo details, equipment, incoterms, requested departure window and customs requirements.
How should a Turkey port code be checked before shipment?
Check the code against the Ecer Freight directory, the UNECE UN/LOCODE reference and the carrier or terminal booking system. Port names can represent a city, a port area or a specific terminal record, so the operational match should be confirmed before documentation is finalized.
This Turkey port guide combines Ecer Freight’s indexed port records with official and institutional maritime references. Indexed port coverage is reviewed with database updates, while national throughput and trade indicators are refreshed as authoritative annual or periodic releases become available.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Turkey: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact