Turkish-Syrian Trade Up 16% in Seven Months as Cilvegozu Truck Terminal Opens

Trade Volume Growth

Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat announced that bilateral trade between Turkey and Syria rose by 16% during the first seven months of the current year, while the full year 2025 recorded a 45% increase. Bolat had previously disclosed in July that total trade between the two countries reached 3.75 billion dollars in the preceding year.

According to a statement by the Turkish Exporters Assembly, Turkish exports to Syria reached 1.28 billion dollars in the first half of the current year, a rise of 26.4% compared with the same period last year.

Cilvegozu Truck Terminal Inaugurated

These figures were announced during the inauguration ceremony of the Cilvegozu truck parking terminal on the Turkish side, which faces the Syrian Bab al-Hawa crossing. The ceremony was attended by Qutayba Badawi, head of Syria's General Authority for Border Crossings and Customs. Badawi stated that the new facility organises truck movement, reduces congestion and waiting times, and accelerates import, export, and transit operations between the two countries.

Bab al-Hawa Expansion Within Three Months

Badawi indicated that the General Authority for Border Crossings and Customs is simultaneously working on expanding and upgrading Bab al-Hawa crossing, through the modernisation of freight yards, buildings, facilities, and movement lanes for trucks and travellers, ahead of its reopening within three months. He noted that the integration of new facilities on both sides of the border is a key factor in raising transit efficiency, particularly given the growth in trade, transit, truck numbers, and passenger movement.

Six Active Border Crossings

Bolat noted that six border crossings are currently operational between the two countries, emphasising the strategic importance of transport corridors, transit trade, and energy links connecting Turkey and Syria with the Middle East and Gulf region. He described Syria as a critical corridor for reaching the Gulf and North Africa, while Turkey serves as an important transit point for Syria toward Western Europe and the Caucasus.

Trade Outlook

Bolat stated that commercial and economic relations between the two countries are developing rapidly, adding that this development, in his view, will benefit the prosperity of both peoples. He had previously referenced an aspiration to raise bilateral trade to 10 billion dollars. Badawi, for his part, described the Syrian-Turkish border crossings as gateways linking Turkish and European markets with Arab markets, amid expanding transport movement across Syrian territory.