Port of Mersin
The Port of Mersin is one of Türkiye’s most important Mediterranean gateways and a major container, general cargo, and logistics hub serving southern Türkiye, Central Anatolia, southeastern Türkiye, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, and wider regional trade corridors. Located in Mersin on Türkiye’s southern coast, the port supports importers, exporters, manufacturers, retailers, agricultural producers, food companies, industrial suppliers, construction companies, customs brokers, freight forwarders, logistics providers, and businesses moving cargo through the Eastern Mediterranean.
Mersin is especially important for containerized freight, refrigerated cargo, food products, agricultural exports, citrus, pulses, grains, textiles, machinery, construction materials, chemicals where permitted, steel, industrial inputs, project cargo, transit cargo, retail inventory, and general commercial freight. Mersin International Port, commonly known as MIP, is the main port operator and is described as Türkiye’s largest container port. MIP has also been expanding its East Med Hub 2 terminal project, with published information indicating capacity expansion from 2.6 million TEU to 3.6 million TEU.
The port’s UN/LOCODE is TRMER. Shippers should confirm the exact terminal, carrier service, cargo type, customs requirements, documentation, inland delivery plan, container availability, reefer requirements, and terminal cut-off times before booking.
Port of Mersin Overview
| Port Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Port name | Port of Mersin |
| Country | Türkiye |
| Province / city | Mersin / Mersin |
| Region | Eastern Mediterranean / Southern Türkiye |
| UN/LOCODE | TRMER |
| Port type | Seaport / container gateway / multipurpose cargo port / regional logistics hub |
| Main port operator | Mersin International Port / MIP |
| Main container facility | Mersin International Port container terminal |
| Port ownership / operator context | MIP is operated by Mersin International Port Management Inc. |
| Main cargo focus | Containers, refrigerated cargo, agricultural products, food products, citrus, pulses, grains, textiles, machinery, construction materials, chemicals where permitted, steel, industrial cargo, project cargo, transit cargo, general freight |
| Main terminal types | Container terminal, reefer areas, general cargo terminals, bulk cargo facilities, project cargo areas, bonded areas, truck gates, customs zones, warehousing and logistics facilities |
| Cargo types | Containers, pallets, cartons, refrigerated cargo, agricultural cargo, food products, textiles, machinery, industrial cargo, steel, chemicals where permitted, construction materials, project cargo, general freight |
| Suitable for | Importers, exporters, manufacturers, agricultural exporters, food companies, textile shippers, industrial suppliers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, southern Türkiye and Eastern Mediterranean supply chains |
Why Ship Through the Port of Mersin?
Mersin is strategically located for cargo moving to and from southern Türkiye, Central Anatolia, southeastern Türkiye, the Eastern Mediterranean, and cross-border trade corridors connecting Türkiye with the Middle East and nearby regional markets. For many shippers, using Mersin can reduce inland trucking distance compared with routing cargo through ports farther west or north when the cargo origin or destination is in Adana, Gaziantep, Konya, Kayseri, Kahramanmaraş, Şanlıurfa, Hatay, Osmaniye, or other inland production and distribution centers.
For importers, Mersin provides access to a large industrial, agricultural, retail, construction, and logistics market. The port supports manufacturers, textile producers, food distributors, machinery importers, construction suppliers, chemical companies where permitted, retailers, wholesalers, and businesses serving southern and inland Türkiye.
For exporters, the port supports Turkish cargo moving to Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, the Gulf, the Eastern Mediterranean, Asia through transshipment networks, and other global markets.
Mersin is especially relevant for businesses that need access to:
- Türkiye’s largest container port
- Eastern Mediterranean container services
- Mersin International Port / MIP terminal infrastructure
- Southern Türkiye, Central Anatolia, and southeastern Türkiye inland routes
- Refrigerated cargo and temperature-sensitive shipments
- Agricultural products, citrus, pulses, grains, food products, textiles, machinery, construction materials, chemicals where permitted, and industrial cargo flows
- Customs, bonded warehousing, trucking, CFS, and inland delivery services
- Trade routes connecting Türkiye with Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, the Gulf, Asia, and global shipping networks
Container Shipping Through Mersin
The Port of Mersin supports containerized import and export cargo through Mersin International Port. Container services through Mersin can support FCL shipments, LCL shipments, refrigerated containers, food products, retail inventory, consumer goods, textiles, machinery, industrial cargo, agricultural products, construction materials, chemicals where permitted, and general commercial freight.
Businesses use Mersin for:
- Import containers into Mersin, Adana, Tarsus, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Konya, Kayseri, Şanlıurfa, Hatay, Malatya, Ankara, and wider inland Türkiye
- Export containers from Turkish manufacturers, agricultural producers, food processors, textile companies, machinery suppliers, chemical companies where permitted, and industrial producers
- Full container load shipments
- Less than container load shipments
- Refrigerated cargo and temperature-sensitive freight
- Citrus, fruit, vegetables, frozen goods, chilled goods, food products, beverages, and perishables where permitted
- Consumer goods, retail inventory, household goods, and eCommerce stock
- Textiles, garments, fabrics, yarn, and related manufacturing inputs
- Machinery, spare parts, tools, and industrial equipment
- Steel, construction products, building materials, ceramics, and infrastructure cargo
- Agricultural cargo, pulses, grains, seeds, nuts, and food ingredients where permitted
- Chemicals, plastics, resins, and industrial materials where permitted
- Project cargo and heavy cargo where terminal compatibility is confirmed
- Cargo moving to or from Mersin, Adana, Tarsus, Gaziantep, Konya, Kayseri, Kahramanmaraş, Osmaniye, Hatay, Şanlıurfa, Malatya, Ankara, and other inland markets
- Shipments connected to Istanbul, Izmir, Aliaga, Iskenderun, Gemlik, Ambarlı, Piraeus, Port Said, Alexandria, Beirut, Haifa, Ashdod, Limassol, Jeddah, Jebel Ali, Valencia, Algeciras, Genoa, La Spezia, Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Le Havre, New York/New Jersey, Houston, Miami, Santos, Buenos Aires, Singapore, Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Shenzhen, and other global gateways
For larger shipments, FCL shipping is usually suitable when cargo can fill a 20ft or 40ft container. For smaller shipments, LCL shipping allows businesses to move partial container loads without paying for a full container.
Mersin Freight Rates
Freight Shipping Cost from & to Mersin for a 20-foot Container
Port Capacity and Terminal Infrastructure
The Port of Mersin is a major multipurpose port complex with container handling, general cargo operations, bulk cargo activity, reefer support, bonded areas, customs zones, truck gates, yard operations, CFS services, warehousing, and inland logistics connections. Mersin International Port’s published infrastructure information identifies the port as a major container and general cargo facility serving Türkiye and the Eastern Mediterranean region. Its East Med Hub 2 project has been reported as an expansion designed to increase capacity and improve large-vessel handling capability.
The port’s infrastructure supports:
- Container handling
- FCL and LCL cargo
- Import and export container flows
- Refrigerated and frozen cargo handling
- Citrus, fresh produce, food products, and temperature-sensitive shipments
- Consumer goods, retail cargo, and eCommerce inventory
- Textile, garment, fabric, and manufacturing cargo
- Machinery, spare parts, and industrial equipment
- Steel, construction materials, ceramics, and infrastructure cargo
- Agricultural products, pulses, grains, seeds, nuts, and food ingredients
- Chemicals, plastics, resins, and industrial materials where permitted
- General cargo and bulk cargo where service is available
- Breakbulk and project cargo where terminal compatibility is confirmed
- Yard and gate operations
- Customs and inspection procedures
- Trucking connections across southern and inland Türkiye
- Bonded storage, warehousing, distribution, CFS, and logistics support in the Mersin region
This infrastructure makes Mersin suitable for shippers that need an Eastern Mediterranean container gateway, inland access to southern and central Türkiye, reefer handling, agricultural export services, textile and industrial cargo handling, construction cargo services, and regional distribution connections.
Main Cargo Handled Through Mersin
The Port of Mersin handles a broad mix of containerized cargo, refrigerated cargo, agricultural products, food products, citrus, pulses, grains, textiles, machinery, industrial inputs, steel, construction materials, chemicals where permitted, project cargo, and general commercial freight.
| Cargo Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Containerized imports | Consumer goods, machinery, textiles, chemicals where permitted, industrial inputs, retail inventory, construction materials, general cargo |
| Containerized exports | Citrus, food products, agricultural goods, textiles, manufactured goods, machinery, industrial products, general cargo |
| Refrigerated cargo | Fruit, vegetables, frozen food, chilled cargo, perishables, temperature-sensitive products where service is available |
| Agricultural cargo | Citrus, fresh produce, pulses, grains, seeds, nuts, food ingredients, processed agricultural products |
| Food and beverage cargo | Packaged foods, drinks, ingredients, frozen products, fresh products where permitted |
| Textile cargo | Garments, fabrics, yarn, textile inputs, apparel products, finished textile goods |
| Retail and consumer goods | Store inventory, household goods, electronics, clothing, seasonal products |
| eCommerce cargo | Marketplace inventory, DTC products, consolidated stock, fulfillment cargo |
| Machinery cargo | Equipment, spare parts, tools, industrial machinery, production equipment |
| Industrial cargo | Manufacturing inputs, components, tools, materials, production supplies |
| Steel and construction cargo | Steel products, ceramics, tiles, stone products, building materials, infrastructure supplies |
| Chemical and plastic cargo | Packaged chemicals, resins, plastics, industrial materials where permitted |
| Project cargo | Heavy equipment, oversized units, industrial cargo, infrastructure cargo where terminal compatibility is confirmed |
| General cargo | Pallets, cartons, mixed commercial freight, samples, packaged goods |
Mersin is especially relevant for shippers that need access to southern Türkiye distribution, agricultural export flows, refrigerated cargo services, textile cargo, industrial supply chains, construction materials, and Eastern Mediterranean shipping networks.
Shipping to Mersin, Türkiye
Importers ship cargo to Mersin from Europe, Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, the Gulf, North America, and other global trade regions. Imported cargo may support retail distribution, manufacturing, textile production, construction projects, food supply chains, chemical production where permitted, industrial operations, wholesale markets, and inland delivery across southern and inland Türkiye.
Common imports to Mersin include:
- Consumer goods and retail inventory
- Electronics and household goods
- Machinery and spare parts
- Industrial equipment and production inputs
- Textile materials, fabrics, yarn, and apparel inputs
- Chemicals, plastics, and resins where permitted
- Food products and beverages
- Frozen and chilled cargo where service is available
- Steel and construction materials
- Ceramics, tiles, stone products, and building supplies
- Agricultural inputs where permitted
- Project cargo and heavy equipment where permitted
- General commercial freight
When shipping to Mersin, importers should compare total landed cost rather than only the ocean freight rate. Total landed cost may include origin charges, ocean freight, destination charges, Turkish customs duties, VAT, terminal handling, customs broker fees, documentation fees, inspection fees, storage, demurrage, detention, trucking, inland delivery, bonded warehousing, cold storage, warehouse handling, and cargo insurance.
Use the iContainers ocean freight calculator to estimate shipping costs and compare available freight options.
Shipping From Mersin, Türkiye
Exporters use Mersin for cargo moving from southern Türkiye, Central Anatolia, southeastern Türkiye, and nearby production regions to international markets. The port can support containerized exports, agricultural products, citrus, food products, textiles, machinery, steel, construction materials, industrial goods, chemicals where permitted, refrigerated cargo, and general commercial freight.
Common export cargo from Mersin and inland Türkiye includes:
- Citrus, fruit, vegetables, and fresh produce
- Pulses, grains, seeds, nuts, and agricultural products
- Packaged food products and beverages
- Frozen and chilled cargo where service is available
- Textiles, garments, fabrics, and apparel products
- Manufactured goods
- Machinery and spare parts
- Industrial components and tools
- Steel and construction-related cargo
- Ceramics, tiles, stone products, and building materials
- Chemicals, plastics, and resins where permitted
- Retail and consumer goods
- General containerized freight
For exporters, the best shipping option depends on cargo volume, commodity type, destination, Incoterm, carrier service, terminal cut-off, container availability, reefer equipment availability, export documentation, inland pickup location, inspection requirements, commodity restrictions, and required transit time.
FCL is usually more efficient for larger commercial volumes, while LCL can work well for smaller shipments, samples, cartons, pallets, and partial container loads moving through consolidation networks.
FCL vs LCL Shipping Through Mersin
| 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 Mersin, Istanbul, Izmir, Iskenderun, Piraeus, Port Said, or another regional hub |
| Reefer container | Citrus, fresh produce, frozen food, chilled cargo, perishables, temperature-sensitive goods | Maintains controlled temperature during transit | Requires reefer equipment, plug availability, temperature settings, and documentation |
| Agricultural cargo | Citrus, fruit, vegetables, pulses, grains, seeds, nuts, food ingredients | Strong fit for southern Türkiye export flows | Requires classification, sanitary documentation where applicable, and cold-chain or dry storage planning |
| Food and beverage cargo | Packaged foods, beverages, ingredients, frozen products | Useful for import and export flows | Requires product classification, permits where applicable, and inspection planning |
| Textile cargo | Garments, fabrics, yarn, apparel goods, textile inputs | Supports Türkiye’s manufacturing and export supply chains | Requires carton labeling, packing accuracy, commercial invoices, and customs data consistency |
| Retail and eCommerce cargo | Store inventory, marketplace stock, household goods, fashion goods | Useful for commercial distribution | Requires SKU planning, carton labeling, commercial invoices, and customs data accuracy |
| Machinery and industrial cargo | Equipment, spare parts, tools, production machinery | Supports manufacturing and industrial supply chains | Requires weight checks, packing, permits where applicable, and accurate cargo descriptions |
| Steel and construction cargo | Steel products, ceramics, tiles, stone products, building materials | Supports construction and infrastructure supply chains | Requires weight control, packaging, permits where applicable, and terminal compatibility |
| Chemical and plastic cargo | Packaged chemicals, resins, plastics, industrial materials | Supports manufacturing and industrial cargo flows | Requires classification, permits, safety documentation, and terminal compatibility |
| Project cargo | Oversized machinery, heavy equipment, infrastructure cargo | Useful for complex industrial shipments | Requires terminal approval, lifting plans, dimensions, weight checks, and route planning |
| General cargo shipping | Consumer goods, machinery, retail goods, packaged cargo | Flexible for standard commercial freight | Requires accurate packing, labeling, documentation, and cargo details |
For shippers comparing route options, iContainers’ transit time calculator can help estimate shipping times before booking.
Customs Clearance at Mersin and Türkiye
Cargo imported or exported through Mersin must comply with Turkish customs and border requirements. Importers, exporters, freight forwarders, customs brokers, manufacturers, retailers, agricultural producers, food companies, textile companies, chemical companies where permitted, industrial suppliers, and logistics providers should prepare accurate shipment data before cargo arrival, customs entry, inspection, release, inland delivery, or vessel departure.
Required data may include product descriptions, HS codes, customs value, country of origin, shipper details, consignee details, importer information, exporter information, tax identification details, permits where applicable, and supporting documentation.
Commercial shipments through Türkiye may require documents such as a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or sea waybill, customs declaration, certificate of origin when required, import permit or export permit when applicable, ATR or EUR.1 movement certificate when applicable, insurance certificate, and product-specific certificates or inspection documents.
Regulated goods such as food products, agricultural goods, meat, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, electronics, batteries, hazardous cargo, chemicals, plants, animals, vehicles, textiles, dual-use goods, and restricted items may require additional permits, inspection, testing, agency approval, safety documentation, sanitary or phytosanitary clearance, or product compliance records under Turkish rules.
For more general guidance, read iContainers’ guide to customs clearance.
Documents Needed for Shipping Through Mersin
Most commercial ocean freight shipments to or from Mersin require:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading or sea waybill
- Customs declaration
- Import declaration, when importing
- Export declaration, when exporting
- HS code or product classification
- Importer details, when importing into Türkiye
- Exporter details, when exporting from Türkiye
- Consignee and shipper details
- Tax identification details, when applicable
- Certificate of origin, when required
- ATR certificate, when applicable
- EUR.1 certificate, when applicable
- Import permit, when applicable
- Export permit, when applicable
- Product inspection documents, when applicable
- Delivery order or cargo release documents
- Insurance certificate, when applicable
- Food safety documents, when applicable
- Sanitary or phytosanitary certificates, when applicable
- Fumigation or wood packaging documentation, when applicable
- Agricultural, food, textile, automotive, chemical, battery, pharmaceutical, construction, or machinery documentation, when applicable
- Dangerous goods declaration, when applicable
- Safety data sheet, for chemicals or hazardous cargo
- Battery documentation, when applicable
- Customs broker authorization or power of attorney, when using a customs broker
- Inland transport documents, when cargo moves by truck, warehouse transfer, bonded storage, distribution center, cold storage, or final delivery
Documentation should be complete and consistent before cargo arrival, customs release, inland transfer, export gate-in, or vessel departure. Incorrect HS codes, incomplete product descriptions, missing permits, inaccurate invoices, inconsistent consignee details, late customs filings, missing inspection documents, unclear cargo values, or missing agency approvals can delay customs clearance and increase costs.
Common Shipping Routes for Mersin
Mersin connects southern Türkiye with European, North African, Middle Eastern, Gulf, Asian, North American, and global trade lanes through container services, feeder networks, trucking, warehousing, customs services, bonded logistics, and inland distribution networks.
| Trade Lane | Common Cargo |
|---|---|
| Europe to Mersin | Machinery, chemicals where permitted, consumer goods, food products, textiles, industrial inputs |
| Mersin to Europe | Citrus, food products, textiles, manufactured goods, machinery, agricultural cargo, general freight |
| Asia to Mersin | Consumer goods, electronics, machinery, textile inputs, retail cargo, industrial inputs |
| Mersin to Asia | Agricultural goods, food products, textiles, industrial products, machinery, general cargo |
| Middle East to Mersin | Regional cargo, food products, industrial goods, consumer goods, construction materials |
| Mersin to Middle East | Food products, textiles, machinery, construction materials, retail cargo, general freight |
| North Africa to Mersin | Food products, beverages, regional cargo, machinery, industrial goods |
| Mersin to North Africa | Agricultural products, textiles, machinery, construction materials, consumer goods, general freight |
| Gulf to Mersin | Consumer goods, chemicals where permitted, machinery, industrial inputs, construction materials |
| Mersin to Gulf | Food products, textiles, machinery, steel, construction materials, general freight |
| North America to Mersin | Machinery, chemicals where permitted, retail cargo, industrial inputs, food products |
| Mersin to North America | Food products, textiles, manufactured goods, machinery, agricultural cargo, general freight |
| Mersin to inland Türkiye | Imports moving by truck, bonded storage, warehouse transfer, cold storage, and regional distribution |
| Inland Türkiye to Mersin | Agricultural exports, textiles, machinery, construction materials, industrial cargo, and general commercial freight |
Routing may involve direct ocean services, feeder services, trucking, inland pickup, bonded warehousing, cold storage, transloading, or transshipment through Mersin, Istanbul, Izmir, Aliaga, Iskenderun, Gemlik, Piraeus, Port Said, Alexandria, Beirut, Haifa, Ashdod, Limassol, Jeddah, Jebel Ali, Valencia, Algeciras, Genoa, La Spezia, Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Le Havre, New York/New Jersey, Houston, Miami, Singapore, Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Shenzhen, and other hubs depending on carrier schedule, cargo type, terminal availability, and destination.
When Should You Use Mersin Instead of Another Turkish Port?
Mersin can be suitable when:
- The cargo origin or destination is in Mersin, Adana, Tarsus, Gaziantep, Konya, Kayseri, Kahramanmaraş, Osmaniye, Hatay, Şanlıurfa, Malatya, Ankara, or nearby inland markets
- The shipment benefits from Türkiye’s largest container port and Eastern Mediterranean position
- The cargo involves containers, refrigerated cargo, agricultural products, citrus, food products, textiles, machinery, construction materials, steel, chemicals where permitted, industrial inputs, project cargo, or general commercial freight
- Inland delivery is more efficient through Mersin than through Istanbul, Izmir, Aliaga, Gemlik, Iskenderun, or another Turkish gateway
- The shipment needs access to MIP container services, reefer support, bonded storage, trucking routes, CFS services, or Mersin-area distribution networks
- Carrier schedule, terminal availability, trucking cost, customs process, cargo type, equipment availability, and landed cost are better through Mersin
Another Turkish port may be more suitable when cargo is closer to a different gateway or when a specific carrier service, inland corridor, terminal, or commodity flow provides a better total cost. Istanbul and Ambarlı may be better for some Marmara and northwestern Türkiye flows. Izmir and Aliaga may be more suitable for western Türkiye and Aegean cargo. Iskenderun may be suitable for some southeastern Türkiye, steel, industrial, or regional cargo flows depending on service availability and inland routing.
The right port choice should be based on total landed cost, cargo origin, inland distance, terminal availability, current operational status, sailing schedule, commodity type, customs requirements, reefer needs, service frequency, trucking capacity, warehouse availability, and required delivery date.
How to Get an Ocean Freight Quote for Mersin
To get a freight quote to or from Mersin, 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, containers, or shipment units
- FCL, LCL, reefer, general cargo, hazardous cargo, machinery cargo, chemical cargo, industrial cargo, food cargo, agricultural cargo, textile cargo, construction cargo, project cargo, or temperature-controlled cargo preference
- Commodity description and HS code, if available
- Cargo ready date
- Incoterm
- Supplier, warehouse, factory, farm, processor, production site, bonded facility, distribution center, cold storage, or inland pickup address, if exporting
- Final delivery address, if importing or arranging door delivery
- Customs clearance requirements
- Turkish import permit, export permit, sanitary, phytosanitary, regulatory, or agency requirements, if applicable
- Product inspection, safety, customs, food, agricultural, chemical, battery, textile, machinery, construction, or other agency requirements, if applicable
- Special handling requirements, such as reefer cargo, hazardous cargo, chemicals, lithium batteries, food cargo, agricultural cargo, oversized cargo, customs inspection, product testing, high-value cargo, bonded warehousing, warehouse delivery, transloading, or final-mile appointment
- Preferred carrier, terminal, trucking provider, customs broker, warehouse, bonded facility, cold storage provider, consolidation provider, or transshipment hub, if already specified
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 Mersin
The Port of Mersin is located in Mersin, Türkiye, on the Eastern Mediterranean coast.
The UN/LOCODE for Mersin is TRMER.
Mersin handles containerized cargo, refrigerated cargo, agricultural products, citrus, food products, textiles, machinery, steel, construction materials, chemicals where permitted, project cargo, transit cargo, and general commercial freight.
Mersin International Port, commonly known as MIP, is the main container and multipurpose port operator serving the Port of Mersin.
Yes. Mersin is especially useful for cargo moving to or from Mersin, Adana, Tarsus, Gaziantep, Konya, Kayseri, Kahramanmaraş, Osmaniye, Hatay, Şanlıurfa, and wider inland Türkiye.
Reference Links
- Mersin International Port - Official Website
- IFM Investors - Mersin International Port
- Global PSA - East Med Hub 2 Terminal Expansion News Release
- UNECE - UN/LOCODE Türkiye List
- Port Operators Association of Türkiye - Mersin International Port
- Türkiye Ministry of Trade - Customs
- Türkiye Ministry of Trade - Import