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International trade

Turkey's Sanctions on Israel: A Delicate Balance between Trade and Politics

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Despite Turkey's restrictions on shipping traffic to Israel, Turkish maritime companies have found ways to circumvent the rules, allowing cargo to continue flowing from vessels departing Turkey to Israel's Ashdod Port. Several Turkish ships, sailing under foreign flags, have been spotted carrying goods to Israel, with some even altering their routes to avoid detection. This has raised questions about the effectiveness of Turkey's sanctions and whether trade between the two countries is continuing despite official restrictions.

Key Takeaways:

  • Several Turkish maritime companies, including MEDKON Hat Isletmeciligi Denizcilik ve Ticaret A.S. and Istanbul-based MEDKON Hat Isletmeciligi Denizcilik ve Ticaret A.S., have found ways to circumvent Turkey's restrictions on shipping traffic to Israel.
  • The MEDKON Canakkale, a ship operated by MEDKON Hat Isletmeciligi Denizcilik ve Ticaret A.S., sailed from Ambarli on September 2 and arrived in Israel on September 6, carrying cargo, despite the ship's draft being unusually high for an empty cargo ship.
  • Another example is the Trans Carrier, a Ro-Ro cargo ship sailing under a Liberian flag, which docked at Haifa Port in Israel on September 8 after leaving the Port of Iskenderun in Hatay, southern Turkey.
  • Experts note that trade between Turkey and Israel is difficult to prevent due to the nature of commercial shipping, where vessels load goods at multiple ports and deliver them to various destinations.
  • Since the war began in Gaza in October 2023, Turkey has imposed several rounds of trade sanctions against Israel, including restrictions on certain product categories and a complete halt to trade in May.
  • However, data from the Turkish Exporters' Assembly shows that Turkey's exports to Palestine in July rose by roughly 1,200% compared to the same month in 2023, with steel exports surging by 51,000% and cement exports by 453,000%.

Statistics:

  • The MEDKON Canakkale's draft was around 8.2 meters, an unusually high figure for an empty cargo ship, indicating that it was likely carrying goods.
  • Turkey's exports to Palestine in July rose by roughly 1,200% compared to the same month in 2023, with steel exports surging by 51,000% and cement exports by 453,000%.
  • The Trans Carrier's Ro-Ro cargo ship sailed under a Liberian flag and docked at Haifa Port in Israel on September 8.

Sources:

  • bianet, June 2024, "Turkey: Israel-imposed trade sanctions 'ineffective'"
  • Turkish Exporters' Assembly, July 2024, "Turkey's exports to Palestine surge by 1,200% in July"
  • MarineTraffic, September 2024, "MEDKON Canakkale's voyage details"
  • bianet, April 2024, "Turkey imposes new trade restrictions on Israel"

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