Kris Adams, executive vice president for Eastern Europe at DP World, writes that Turkey’s air freight growth underscores its role as a vital link in the interconnected global economy.
With today’s interconnected global economy, efficient and reliable logistics solutions are critical to maintaining competitive supply chains.
Turkey’s air freight sector is doing just that, handling approximately 4.4 million metric tonnes of cargo in 2023 – a 7% increase from the previous year.
In navigating an increasingly complex landscape, the country’s air freight capabilities promise reliability and offers a strategic edge in providing efficient services to customers.
Turkey’s role as a trade hub
For centuries, Turkey has served as a critical crossroads of global trade, connecting the East and West. Situated at the heart of Marmara Sea, the country plays a crucial role in maritime trade, reinforcing its position as a strategic hub for global logistics.
Today, Turkey continues to use its strategic location to build a multimodal logistics network and facilitate trade.
In 2023, the country’s exports hit an all-time high of $255.8 billion, an uptick of 0.6% from the previous year.
Projects like the Development Road initiative, which aims to create a trade corridor from Basra, Iraq to Turkey and eventually further into Europe, highlight the nation’s commitment to expanding its influence in global trade.
Complementing its logistics is an extensive network of highways, railways, and maritime routes driving economic growth and further solidifying its role as a key player in global trade. This strong network not only serves Turkey and those who call it home, but other countries also, such as Germany, which views Turkey as a highly important trading partner and rely on its modern infrastructure to access Asian markets.
The growth of air freight in Turkey
The country’s airports and the air freight capabilities they provide are also becoming an essential part of the supply chain network.
It is a sector that is experiencing rapid growth, driven by demand for fast and efficient delivery across industries.
Recognising this trend, DP World has expanded our air freight team from 10 to 32 employees to meet the surge in cargo volumes, making use of the country’s geographical advantage to connect global markets efficiently.
However, growth comes with its challenges. Infrastructure constraints at some airports, regulatory complexities, and the high cost of air freight compared to other modes of transport need to be carefully addressed through proper engagement and planning. This can be done, for example, through ongoing investments in state-of-the-art cargo handling facilities and streamlined customs procedures that will significantly enhance throughput capacity and reduce delays.
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Turkey’s air freight sector handled approximately 4.4 million metric tonnes of cargo in 2023.
Flying fish and figs
Since 2022, we have helped transform Turkey’s air freight landscape through our experience and expertise. Each year, we handle over 11,000 tonnes of air cargo, providing critical logistics solutions across sectors like perishables, automotive and e-commerce to name but a few.
In 2024, for example, we transported 140 tonnes of pharma products over air from Turkey to customers in Europe, showcasing the vital role air freight and cold chain storage systems we use play in global health logistics.
Our air freight operations also include perishable products such as fruit and confectionery. We transport around 650 tonnes of figs per year, a food synonymous with Turkey, to Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and China. This ensures that consumers in these countries can enjoy this delicious specialty, and Turkish producers can quickly and efficiently access markets.
We also transport sweets in our air freight operations, which are mainly chocolates and Turkish delights, with 2024 seeing us move approximately 120 tonnes of them. As with some of the pharmaceutical products we fly, the chocolates we transport need to be retained at the right temperature. We keep them between 15-25 degrees Celsius throughout their journey to preserve the quality and integrity of the product.
The transport of live fish has recently become a focus for us. This is mainly due to the increase in demand for fish breeding ponds owing to the complexities in securing or renewing fishing licences in some countries. In the past two years, we have transported 750 tonnes of fish so that our customers can enter new markets or maintain their position in existing ones.
Building for the future
While we offer a range of services to our Turkish air freight customers, our commitment to the country extends beyond what we fly in and out of it.
Investments in modern infrastructure, such as our 12,000 sqm warehouse in Kocaeli, highlights our dedication to customer-centric solutions. This state-of-the-art facility, equipped with 24,000 pallet spaces and eco-friendly operations, supports sectors like textiles and chemicals.
Moreover, our focus on automation enhances customer experience, allowing them to track their goods in real-time, which enhances visibility and improves supply chain transparency.
Turkey’s historical role as a trade hub is being reimagined for the modern era. With its strategic location and investments in cutting-edge infrastructure, the country is solidifying its position as an indispensable partner for global trade. The strong growth in its aviation sector creates significant opportunities for DP World Turkey.
The expansion of the country’s aircraft fleet and increasing cargo capacity is driving a rapid rise in demand for air cargo transportation. To meet this growth and lead the industry developments, we aim to integrate innovative trends such as digitalisation, data analytics and automation into our operations.
Overall, these strategies will make operational processes faster, more efficient and effective, reinforcing our competitive advantage in the sector while also allowing Turkey to become a vital regional air cargo location.
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