What Are The Main Shipping Ports From Turkey?

Currently, there are around 50 shipping ports being used in Turkey. However, only 5 of these shipping ports specialise in receiving shipping containers. Here is our comprehensive guide for all logistics covering shipping ports in Turkey.

KG Logistics is a reputable freight forwarding company with expertise in shipping goods from Turkey to the UK and worldwide.

Content last updated: November 2025

Key Takeaways

• Turkey is a competitive and efficient alternative to China for international shipping, offering quicker transit times and lower congestion.
• The main shipping ports in Turkey are Haydarpasa, Ambarlı, Izmir, Mersin, and Gemlik.
• KG Logistics provides comprehensive import freight services from Turkey, including sea, air, and LCL/FCL, with full door-to-door and customs support.

Why is Shipping From Turkey a Fantastic Alternative?

Although it still holds the title as one of the most significant places to ship from, China has been experiencing some issues in regard to high levels of shipping congestion and a rapid increase in costs.

Turkey shipping is a fantastic alternative to shipping from China, with a competitive freight rate and quicker transit times, making it a very popular choice for many logistics companies and their customers. The quickest of these transit times would be via sea and road, as for example the port-to-port travelling time from Gemlik to Felixstowe is 9-10 days. Some of the key goods being transported include furniture, concrete, patio slabs, ceramics, and other similar items.

KG Logistics offer a comprehensive door-to-door and customs-clearing import freight forwarding service to help clients import from Turkey.

Top Tip: Browse our guide on the main trading lanes for global freight forwarding, including Turkey.

Shipping Ports in Turkey

Haydarpasa

Two of Turkey’s main shipping ports lie within the region of Istanbul. The first of these is known as Haydarpasa, and up until recently was the largest port in the whole of the country. Situated on the shore of the Sea of Marmara, Haydarpasa, with 18 berths, is still a thriving port offering facilities including a 55,000m2 container and terminal, along with stuffing, unstuffing, and custom clearance services located within.

Haydarpasa also boasts a 250-tonne floating crane, three tugboats, two mooring boats, and three rail ferries, along with a grain solo holding up to 34,000 tonnes. Haydarpasa is also well served by the rail ferry terminal that runs between Haydarpasa and Sirkeci.

Ambarlı

The newer of the two main ports in Istanbul, Ambarlı, is also the most popular. Situated on the Sea of Maramara’s northern shore, it serves the greater Istanbul area.

Ambarlı is made up of three container terminals: Kumport, Mardasport, and Marport. Marport, with a capacity of 2.3 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit), is the main terminal used.

Izmir

Another of the main Turkey shipping ports that logistics specialists need to be aware of is Izmir. Located on the west coast of Turkey, Izmir has a capacity of around 9 million tonnes and boasts 7 births! It also deals with a range of cargo types and is well connected to Turkey’s highway system and rail network.

Izmir also has an impressive range of facilities on offer, including 24-berth capacity, a 200-tonne floating crane, 5 40-tonne gantry cranes, 9 shore cranes, and 14 mobile cranes. Izmir also offers over 200,000 m2 of storage yards and a warehouse for hazardous cargo. Izmir even offers restoration work such as deck, metalworking, and engine repair.

Mersin

Another of the main ports in Turkey to consider is Mersin. A relatively newly constructed port, Mersin builds on a long-held tradition of trading goods from overseas, present in the area since the Neolithic period.

Mersin is also the largest port in Turkey that specialises in containers with 26 berths. Located in southeast Turkey on the Mediterranean Sea, southeast Mersin is well connected to the rest of Turkey and the world via the Istanbul-Baghdad railway and by ferry to Cyprus.

Gemlik

The final of the main ports in Turkey to consider is Gemlik. The port of Gemlik is located on the southeastern shore of the Sea of Marmara, on the tip of the Gulf of Gemlik. Gemlik can handle over 330,000 TEU containers and is most well-known for exporting cars worldwide.

Why Choose KG Logistics for Turkey Shipping?

KG Logistics offer a comprehensive import freight forwarding service to help clients import from Turkey. Our sea and air freight services include: part load (LCL), full load (FCL), and all air freight for both commercial and general public clients. Our specialised break-bulk team can arrange both ex works and FOB shipments for all larger out-of-gauge cargo. We can arrange any type of air freight shipping on a door-to-door basis, whether your shipment is of utmost urgency or requires a full charter of an aircraft.

Contact our friendly team for more information.