Port of Iskenderun
The Port of Iskenderun is one of Turkey’s key seaports on the Eastern Mediterranean and a major cargo gateway for southern Turkey, the Eastern Mediterranean, and regional trade with the Middle East. Located in Hatay Province on the Gulf of Iskenderun, the port serves container shipping, general cargo, bulk cargo, liquid bulk, RoRo cargo, project cargo, industrial cargo, and regional logistics.
For commercial shippers, Iskenderun is especially important because it connects southern and southeastern Turkey with international ocean freight services. The port supports importers, exporters, freight forwarders, manufacturers, industrial suppliers, agricultural exporters, steel companies, construction businesses, energy-related cargo owners, and regional distributors.
Iskenderun is also closely connected to Turkey’s industrial and trade corridors serving Hatay, Adana, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Mersin, Şanlıurfa, and nearby Middle Eastern markets.
Port of Iskenderun Overview
| Port Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Port name | Port of Iskenderun |
| Country | Turkey |
| Province | Hatay |
| Region | Eastern Mediterranean / Southern Turkey |
| UN/LOCODE | TRISK |
| Port type | Seaport |
| Main port facilities | LimakPort Iskenderun and other Gulf of Iskenderun terminal areas |
| Main cargo types | Containers, general cargo, dry bulk, liquid bulk, RoRo cargo, breakbulk, project cargo, industrial cargo |
| Suitable for | Importers, exporters, freight forwarders, manufacturers, industrial shippers, steel companies, agricultural exporters, regional distributors |
Why Ship Through the Port of Iskenderun?
The Port of Iskenderun is strategically located on Turkey’s Eastern Mediterranean coast, giving shippers access to southern Turkey, southeastern Turkey, the Eastern Mediterranean, and overland trade corridors toward the Middle East.
For importers, Iskenderun provides access to industrial and consumer markets in Hatay, Adana, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Mersin, Malatya, and surrounding provinces. For exporters, the port supports cargo moving from Turkey’s manufacturing, agricultural, textile, steel, machinery, construction, and industrial supply chains to Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and other global markets.
Iskenderun is especially relevant for companies connected to steel, cement, construction materials, machinery, chemicals, textiles, agricultural products, food products, automotive parts, energy equipment, and project cargo.
Container Shipping Through Iskenderun
Iskenderun supports containerized cargo through LimakPort Iskenderun and other regional port infrastructure in the Gulf of Iskenderun. The port is used for import containers, export containers, feeder cargo, reefer cargo, industrial cargo, and cargo connected to southern Turkey’s manufacturing and logistics base.
Businesses use Iskenderun for:
- Import containers into southern and southeastern Turkey
- Export containers from Turkish industrial and agricultural regions
- Full container load shipments
- Less than container load shipments
- Reefer containers for food and temperature-sensitive cargo
- Steel, machinery, chemicals, textiles, and industrial cargo
- Agricultural exports and food products
- Project cargo and oversized cargo
- Cargo connected to Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern trade corridors
For larger shipments, FCL shipping is usually suitable when cargo can fill a 20ft or 40ft container. For smaller shipments, LCL shipping lets businesses move partial container loads without paying for a full container.
Iskenderun Freight Rates
Freight Shipping Cost from & to Iskenderun for a 20-foot Container
Port Capacity and Terminal Development
The Port of Iskenderun has become an important container and industrial cargo gateway in the Eastern Mediterranean. LimakPort Iskenderun is one of the largest container ports in the Eastern Mediterranean region and has been developed with container, general cargo, project cargo, bulk cargo, and RoRo capabilities.
Limak’s port information describes LimakPort Iskenderun as having container capacity of more than 1 million TEU, while Limak Construction’s project information refers to modernization work designed to create a modern container terminal with capacity of about 1.3 million TEU. These developments support Iskenderun’s role as a regional gateway for containerized and non-containerized freight.
The port’s location near industrial zones, highways, and regional trade corridors makes it especially useful for shippers that need access to southern Turkey and surrounding markets.
Main Cargo Handled Through Iskenderun
The Port of Iskenderun handles a broad mix of cargo connected to Turkey’s industrial, manufacturing, agricultural, and construction economy.
| Cargo Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Containerized imports | Machinery, electronics, raw materials, consumer goods, industrial inputs |
| Containerized exports | Textiles, food products, machinery, steel-related products, chemicals, manufactured goods |
| Steel cargo | Steel products, coils, plates, billets, raw materials, industrial metal cargo |
| Construction materials | Cement, clinker, aggregates, machinery, building materials |
| Dry bulk | Minerals, grains, raw materials, agricultural commodities, industrial commodities |
| Liquid bulk | Petroleum products, chemicals, oils, industrial liquids where permitted |
| RoRo cargo | Vehicles, trailers, rolling machinery, mobile equipment |
| Reefer cargo | Food products, chilled goods, frozen cargo, pharmaceuticals |
| Breakbulk cargo | Machinery, oversized cargo, steel products, non-containerized freight |
| Project cargo | Heavy equipment, infrastructure cargo, energy cargo, industrial machinery |
Iskenderun is especially relevant for companies that need access to Turkey’s southern industrial base and Eastern Mediterranean trade corridors.
Shipping to Iskenderun
Importers ship cargo to Iskenderun from major sourcing and production markets, including Europe, China, South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, North Africa, the United States, and other Mediterranean ports.
Common imports to Iskenderun and southern Turkey include:
- Machinery and spare parts
- Electronics and electrical components
- Raw materials and industrial inputs
- Steelmaking inputs and metal products
- Chemicals and plastics
- Construction materials
- Food and beverage products
- Retail and consumer goods
- Automotive parts
- Manufacturing components
- Energy and infrastructure equipment
- Project cargo and oversized equipment
When shipping to Iskenderun, importers should compare total landed cost, not only the ocean freight rate. Total landed cost can include origin charges, sea freight, feeder charges, destination charges, customs clearance, import duty, VAT, port charges, storage, demurrage, local trucking, inland delivery, and documentation fees.
Use the iContainers ocean freight calculator to estimate shipping costs and compare available freight options.
Shipping From Iskenderun
Exporters use Iskenderun for cargo moving from southern and southeastern Turkey to regional and international markets. The port is especially relevant for manufacturers, steel exporters, textile companies, agricultural exporters, food producers, machinery suppliers, construction-material exporters, industrial suppliers, and freight forwarders.
Common export cargo from Iskenderun includes:
- Steel and steel-related products
- Cement, clinker, and construction materials
- Textiles and garments
- Machinery and industrial equipment
- Chemicals and plastics
- Food and agricultural products
- Automotive components
- Manufactured goods
- Energy and infrastructure equipment
- Project and oversized cargo
- Containerized industrial cargo
For exporters, the choice between FCL, LCL, breakbulk, bulk, RoRo, or project cargo depends on shipment size, destination, cargo value, production schedule, and carrier routing. FCL is usually more efficient for larger containerized volumes, while LCL can work well for smaller shipments, samples, cartons, pallets, or partial commercial loads.
FCL vs LCL Shipping Through Iskenderun
| Shipping Option | Best For | Main Advantage | Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCL shipping | Full 20ft or 40ft container loads | Dedicated container and fewer cargo touchpoints | Best when shipment volume justifies a full container |
| LCL shipping | Smaller shipments, cartons, pallets, samples, partial loads | Pay only for the space used | May involve consolidation or deconsolidation through Iskenderun, Mersin, Istanbul, Piraeus, Malta, or another hub |
| Reefer container | Food, pharmaceuticals, chilled or frozen cargo | Keeps cargo at controlled temperature | Requires equipment availability and correct temperature settings |
| RoRo shipping | Vehicles, trailers, rolling machinery, and mobile equipment | Efficient for cargo that can roll on and off vessels | Depends on lane availability and terminal capability |
| Bulk shipping | Minerals, grains, cement, clinker, raw materials, industrial commodities | Suitable for high-volume non-containerized cargo | Requires terminal capability and commodity-specific planning |
| Liquid bulk shipping | Chemicals, oils, petroleum-related products, industrial liquids | Suitable for eligible liquid bulk cargo | Requires safety, product, and terminal compliance |
| Breakbulk shipping | Oversized or non-containerized cargo | Useful for machinery, steel, construction materials, and industrial cargo | Requires special handling and early planning |
| Project cargo | Heavy or complex industrial shipments | Supports infrastructure, energy, and industrial cargo | Needs coordination with carrier, terminal, customs, haulier, and final delivery teams |
For shippers comparing route options, iContainers’ transit time calculator can help estimate shipping times before booking.
Customs Clearance in Iskenderun and Turkey
Cargo imported through Iskenderun must comply with Turkish customs requirements. Importers should prepare accurate shipment data before cargo arrival, including product descriptions, HS codes, customs values, country of origin, consignee details, importer information, and supporting documents.
Commercial shipments typically require a customs declaration, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or sea waybill, certificate of origin, and additional documents depending on the commodity. Food, agricultural products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, electronics, hazardous cargo, animals, plants, and regulated goods may require control certificates, health certificates, phytosanitary certificates, veterinary certificates, product approvals, testing, or inspection.
Turkey’s customs procedures also require goods entering the customs territory to be presented to customs and linked to a prior summary declaration or customs declaration.
For more general guidance, read iContainers’ guide to customs clearance.
Documents Needed for Shipping Through Iskenderun
Most commercial ocean freight shipments to or from Iskenderun require:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading or sea waybill
- Customs declaration
- HS codes and product descriptions
- Certificate of origin
- ATR movement certificate, when applicable
- EUR.1 movement certificate, when applicable
- Insurance certificate, when applicable
- Import license or export license, when applicable
- Control certificate, when applicable
- Health certificate, when applicable
- Phytosanitary certificate, when applicable
- Veterinary health certificate, when applicable
- Inspection certificate, when applicable
- Dangerous goods declaration, when applicable
- Marine insurance certificate, if cargo insurance is purchased
- Delivery order or cargo release documents
- Customs broker authorization, when using a customs broker or agent
Documentation should be complete and consistent before cargo arrival or departure. Incorrect product descriptions, missing HS codes, undervalued invoices, incomplete consignee information, missing certificates, or inconsistent customs data can delay customs clearance and increase costs.
Common Shipping Routes for Iskenderun
The Port of Iskenderun connects southern Turkey with Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, North America, and regional Mediterranean trade lanes.
| Trade Lane | Common Cargo |
|---|---|
| Europe to Iskenderun | Machinery, chemicals, industrial equipment, consumer goods, automotive parts |
| China to Iskenderun | Machinery, electronics, raw materials, consumer goods, industrial supplies |
| South Korea to Iskenderun | Electronics, machinery, components, chemicals, consumer goods |
| Japan to Iskenderun | Machinery, automotive parts, electronics, industrial equipment |
| Southeast Asia to Iskenderun | Components, raw materials, consumer goods, food products, industrial inputs |
| India to Iskenderun | Textiles, chemicals, machinery, food products, commercial cargo |
| Middle East to Iskenderun | Chemicals, plastics, raw materials, industrial inputs, project cargo |
| United States to Iskenderun | Machinery, electronics, industrial goods, food products, relocation cargo |
| Iskenderun to Europe | Steel products, textiles, machinery, food products, chemicals |
| Iskenderun to North Africa | Construction materials, steel, machinery, consumer goods |
| Iskenderun to Middle East | Steel, cement, textiles, food products, machinery |
| Iskenderun to United States | Steel products, machinery, textiles, food products, industrial goods |
| Iskenderun to Asia | Steel, chemicals, machinery, food products, industrial cargo |
For cargo moving to or from Iskenderun, routing may involve direct services, feeder services, regional Mediterranean connections, trucking, rail links, or transshipment through Mersin, Istanbul, Piraeus, Malta, Port Said, or other Mediterranean hubs depending on carrier schedule, cargo type, and final destination.
When Should You Use Iskenderun Instead of Another Turkish Port?
Iskenderun can be suitable when:
- The cargo origin or destination is in southern or southeastern Turkey
- The shipment is connected to Hatay, Adana, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Şanlıurfa, or nearby industrial areas
- The cargo involves steel, construction materials, textiles, machinery, chemicals, agricultural goods, food products, automotive parts, or industrial supplies
- The shipper needs access to Eastern Mediterranean routes
- Inland delivery savings are important
- The shipment can use container, bulk, RoRo, breakbulk, or project cargo services through Iskenderun
- The cargo is connected to regional trade corridors toward the Middle East
Another Turkish port may be more suitable when the shipment requires a specific carrier service, more frequent direct deep-sea coverage, or final delivery closer to another gateway such as Mersin, Istanbul, Izmir, Gemlik, Aliaga, Ambarli, or Gebze.
The right port choice should be based on total landed cost, sailing schedule, inland delivery, customs requirements, terminal availability, cargo type, and required delivery date.
How to Get an Ocean Freight Quote for Iskenderun
To get a freight quote to or from Iskenderun, prepare the following details:
- Origin and destination
- Port-to-port, door-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-door requirement
- Cargo weight and dimensions
- Number of pallets, cartons, boxes, trailers, or containers
- FCL, LCL, RoRo, bulk, liquid bulk, breakbulk, or project cargo preference
- Commodity description and HS code, if available
- Cargo ready date
- Incoterm
- Customs clearance requirements
- Final pickup or delivery address, if needed
- Special handling requirements, such as reefer, hazardous cargo, RoRo cargo, bulk cargo, liquid bulk, oversized cargo, or project cargo
- Preferred Iskenderun terminal, if already specified by the carrier or consignee
With iContainers, businesses can compare ocean freight options online, review available rates, and manage international shipments through a digital booking process.
FAQ About the Port of Iskenderun
The Port of Iskenderun is located in Iskenderun, Hatay Province, Turkey, on the Gulf of Iskenderun in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The UN/LOCODE for Iskenderun is TRISK.
Common cargo includes containers, steel products, cement, construction materials, machinery, chemicals, textiles, food products, agricultural cargo, automotive parts, general cargo, bulk cargo, liquid bulk, RoRo cargo, and project cargo.