Forwarding, Freight News, Logistics


Türkiye plays pivotal role in Gulf freight

[ July 3, 2026   //   ]

Companies are increasingly routing cargo through Türkiye to Gulf markets in response to geopolitical uncertainty and disruption to traditional shipping routes, DP World told the Türkiye Maritime Summit in Istanbul on 2 July.

The ports and logistics company said this was reinforcing Türkiye’s position as a strategic trade and logistics hub connecting Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Global chief operating officer, Abdulla Al Hashmi, said businesses are increasingly looking for alternative trade corridors that complement traditional maritime routes and improve supply chain resilience. Recent disruption to traditional maritime routes has reinforced the importance of diversified supply chains, with businesses increasingly combining sea and overland transport to improve resilience and reduce transit times.

“We are seeing a significant increase in the amount of freight moving through Türkiye as companies use the country as a corridor to move goods into Gulf markets. This trend spans multiple sectors and is taking place in both directions – from Europe into the Gulf, and from the Far East through Türkiye and onward,” Abdulla Al Hashmi said.

DP World is already supporting customers across the automotive, consumer goods and industrial manufacturing sectors as they increasingly use Türkiye as a gateway into Gulf markets. It combines maritime and road transport to reduce transit times between Europe and Gulf markets from around 55 days by sea to approximately 22-29 days.

DP World has invested more than US$600 million in Türkiye, formingf DP World Evyap in 2024 by combing the Yarımca and Körfez terminals to create the second largest port operation in Türkiye.

DP World was also the first private port operator in Türkiye to connect its terminal to the national railway network through its own investment.

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