Due to the slowdown in the economy, the contraction in ports also accelerated. According to data from the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the total amount of cargo handled at ports decreased by 11 percent in November compared to the same period last year to 38 million 217 thousand tons.
In October, the amount of cargo handled at the ports had decreased by 3.5 percent on an annual basis to 44 million 282 thousand tons. Thus, the amount of cargo handled in the January-November period decreased by 4.7 percent compared to the same period last year and remained at 474 million 291 thousand 189 tons.
Expecting the decline in business volume to continue in December, sector representatives pointed out that there will be a contraction for the first time on a yearly basis after 5 years.
In November, the amount of loading for export purposes increased by 8 percent compared to the same month of the previous year and reached 11 million 373 thousand 109 tons, while the amount of unloading for import purposes decreased by 14.8 percent to 17 million 634 thousand 731 tons. Foreign trade transportation decreased by 7.1 percent to 29 million 7 thousand 840 tons in the same period. Transit cargo transports decreased by 33.4 percent to 4 million 499 thousand 80 tons and the amount of cargo carried in cabotage decreased by 4.7 percent to 4 million 709 thousand 926 tons.
Imported cargo dropped in container
The total amount of containers handled at ports in November increased by 0.4 percent compared to the same month of the previous year and reached 970 thousand 871 TEU. The amount of containers subject to foreign trade handled at ports in November decreased by 0.3 percent compared to the same month of the previous year and became 759 thousand 637 TEU. While container loadings for export purposes increased by 4.9 percent compared to the same month of the previous year and reached 389 thousand 273 TEU, container unloadings for import purposes decreased by 5.3 percent to 370 thousand 364 TEU. The amount of transit containers increased by 5.9 percent to 153 thousand 787 TEU in this period. The highest number of container handling operations took place within the administrative boundaries of Ambarlı Port Authority. Containers destined for Egypt accounted for the highest number of export container shipments. The highest container unloading was realized in containers coming from Greece. In the January-November period of this year, the amount of containers handled at the ports increased by 1.2 percent compared to the same period last year and was recorded as 11 million 458 thousand 351 TEU.
