Transport trips from Türkiye to Syria are projected to double in 2025. Last year, Turkish transporters made 189,000 trips to Syria, and with ongoing stabilization and reconstruction efforts, this number is set to rise significantly.

Serafettin Araz, chairman of the Turkish International Transporters’ Association (UND), stated that future stability in Syria will facilitate increased transport activity. He noted that Syria accounted for 10% of Türkiye’s total 2.1 million transport trips last year, with its share growing by 11% annually in 2024, reaching a trade value of $2 billion.

“We want to be able to transport Turkish goods directly into Syria to their destinations instead of taking them to border gates — we are waiting for the return of the Free Trade Agreement that existed before the civil war, as Turkish officials are negotiating on this matter,” Araz explained.

He added, “Syria needs to be rebuilt, and we estimate that Türkiye’s transported goods to Syria will further stimulate activities in the region, creating significant momentum for both Türkiye and Syria.”

Araz emphasized that Türkiye has consistently maintained trade relations with its neighbors, including Syria and Iraq, and expects exports to Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan to rise alongside Syria’s stabilization. He also pointed out that European cargo transport to Gulf countries via Syria is likely to increase as the situation stabilizes.

Underscoring Türkiye’s strategic geopolitical position in global trade, particularly amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine, Araz concluded, “We expect Türkiye’s transit transports and overall trade to increase, and I believe this growth will extend across both Europe and Asia.”