A recent USDA report reveals Türkiye's growing role in global agricultural transshipments, with a record $4 billion worth of goods processed in 2022. The country’s strategic investments in port infrastructure have solidified its position in regional and global trade.

Over the past decade, Türkiye has transformed into a significant hub for transshipping agricultural goods like oilseeds, grain, pulses, and tree nuts, benefiting from its location and investments in port and storage infrastructure. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS-Türkiye) released on August 26, the total value of transshipped agricultural products through Türkiye reached an estimated $4 billion in 2022, almost double the levels from previous years. Although the figure dropped slightly to $3.8 billion in 2023, Türkiye’s role in global trade is expected to continue growing.

“The country has become an essential transit point for agricultural products from Russia, Ukraine, and beyond,” the report highlights, particularly in light of disruptions in the Black Sea region. Between 2013 and 2023, transshipments of bulk commodities like grain and oilseeds increased fivefold, reflecting Türkiye’s deepening integration into major trade networks such as the Trans-Caspian East-West-Middle Corridor and China’s Belt & Road Initiative.

The report also notes the growing presence of U.S. agricultural products like tree nuts and frozen chicken meat being transshipped through Türkiye to neighboring countries. These shipments are processed through ports like Mersin, reinforcing Türkiye’s strategic importance in the Middle East and beyond.