International rail freight of Turkey is running towards the highest volume of all times.

After the peak of 3.2 million tons in 2008, international freight was decreasing every year, reaching down to 1.6 million tons in 2014. In last 3 years, this trend is reversed and international freight will most probably hit the record volume high of all times this year.

Towards record high

In first 7 months of 2020, the international freight volume has reached to 2.13 million tons, 36% more compared to same period of last year. Total freight volume is expected to reach to 3.5 million tons, which will mean a record high of all times.

The international rail freight volumes of last 20 years are as follows:

Trains back up Iran transports

Contact-free transports by rail attract attention when Iran-Turkey border had become a mess due to Covid-19. While trucks waited for weeks at border, wagons passed border fast and in first 6 months of 2020, last year’s volume had been reached. Rail freight between Iran and Turkey had reached 402k tons by the end of July.

Rail freight volumes had reached 800k tons in 2006 and decreased every year since then reaching to 352k tons last year.

Cover photo: Metrans ©