Turkey reports significant growth in EU trade and maritime fleet capacity

Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat reported that trade between Turkey and the European Union has increased elevenfold over the last 30 years, rising from $21 billion in 1996 to $233 billion. Speaking at the ACE BPSC 2026 Summit in Istanbul, Bolat highlighted Turkey's significant global standing in various sectors, noting the country ranks second globally in contracting behind China, fourth in tourism, and fourth in aviation via Turkish Airlines.

Separately, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that the Turkish-owned maritime merchant fleet has reached its highest level in history. As of July 1, 2026, the fleet of vessels over 1,000 gross tons consists of 2,262 ships with a total capacity of 54.3 million deadweight tons (DWT). This represents a 4.7% increase in capacity and a 1.3% increase in the number of vessels compared to the end of 2025. Since 2002, the fleet has grown from 569 ships and 8.9 million DWT to its current levels.