Turkiye's road transport journeys to Syria expected to double in 2025

The number of road transport journeys from Turkiye to Syria is expected to double this year, from 189,000 recorded in 2024, a sector representative has told Anadolu.

The chairman of the Turkish International Transporters’ Association (UND), Serafettin Araz, said that future stability in Syria would facilitate this increase in road transport activity. He noted that Syria accounted for 10 per cent of Turkiye’s 2.1 million road transport journeys last year.

“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 was made before the civil war, as Turkish officials are negotiating on the matter,” said Araz. “Syria needs to be rebuilt, and we estimate that Turkiye’s transported goods to Syria will increase the activities in the region and create a serious momentum for both Turkiye and Syria.”

The UND official stressed that Turkiye has consistently maintained trade relations with its neighbours, including Syria and Iraq, and expects exports to regional countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan to increase as Syria stabilises. He also pointed out that European cargo transport to Gulf countries via Syria is also likely to increase as the situation gets better.

Araz underscored Turkiye’s strategic geopolitical position in global trade, particularly amid the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine. “We expect Turkiye’s transit, transport and trade to increase, and I think this will be with all of Europe and Asia.”

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