Cost-efficient Freight Shipping

Trade between the EU and Türkiye has been steadily increasing over the last few decades. With Türkiye producing everything from cars and chemicals to electronics and appliances, transport between the two regions has become extremely important. And seaborne trade has continued to dominate road transport as congestion, border controls and customs formalities can hinder the flow.

VP of Business Development of DFDS in Istanbul, Fuat Pamukcu explains, “Türkiye has the world’s 18th largest economy and 55% of its exports are seaborne. That is why the operation of ro-ro ships and port terminals have been so important here in recent decades and why we’ve been able to build such a robust freight shipping infrastructure.”

More cost-efficient transport options

DFDS acquired U.N. Ro-Ro, Türkiye’s leading freight ferry company, and its fleet of 12 owned vessels in June 2018. That means DFDS is now operating five routes connecting Italy and France with Türkiye. Apart from the owned port terminals in Trieste – Italy and Pendik – Istanbul, BU Med also operates in Ambarlı – Istanbul, Yalova and Mersin in Türkiye, Bari in Italy, Patras in Greece and Toulon in France.

“The new Mediterranean ferry routes open more cost-efficient transport options for DFDS customers,” says Fuat. “Combining these routes with a range of efficient road and intermodal networks will allow exporters and transporters to avoid the costly hindrances of straight road transport. Customers can also reduce their environmental footprint by adding more intermodal into their transport mix.”

DFDS’ total fleet now comprises over 60 vessels, including two mega freight ro-ro vessels dedicated to Mediterranean routes. As trade between the EU and Türkiye continues to grow in the coming years, DFDS will offer additional value-added services in the region, such as warehousing, additional rail connections and additional routes.