Turkey's international trade corridors run into customs and infrastructure bottlenecks at the European border
Trade corridors developed by Turkey between Asia and Europe are experiencing disruptions due to congestion and infrastructure deficiencies at the Bulgarian border.
Transportation initiatives pursued by Turkey to establish an uninterrupted trade network between Asia and Europe are slowing down due to infrastructure inadequacies at the European Union border and congestion at customs gates.
Infrastructure and customs bottlenecks
International trade corridors developed by Turkey and Asian countries over the past 20 years with billions of dollars in investments have hit infrastructure and customs bottlenecks at the European Union border.
Turkey's investments, which have formed a strong logistics network through projects such as the Middle Corridor, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway, and Marmaray, are losing time due to sluggish customs procedures at the Bulgarian border.
Waiting times reached 125 hours
According to statements by the International Transporters Association, waiting times at the Bulgarian border have risen up to 125 hours during certain periods.
These delays, exceeding five days, extend delivery times for companies transporting goods from Turkey to Europe while increasing vehicle, fuel, personnel, and operational costs.
A 30-kilometer truck queue in Hamzabeyli
Due to renovation works initiated by Bulgaria at the Kapitan Andreevo Border Gate, traffic congestion has shifted to the Hamzabeyli Border Gate.
As of October 12, the truck queue in Hamzabeyli reached 30 kilometers, with hundreds of vehicles waiting to cross into Europe.
The financial burden of delays is growing
Wait times at border gates are increasing costs not only for transport companies but also for producers and importers in Europe.
While the daily cost for a group of vehicles rises to 936,000 euros, a 48-hour delay climbs to 1.87 million euros, and a 72-hour delay increases to 2.8 million euros.
Modernization works and IRU call
Bulgaria began modernization works with an investment of 43 million euros at Kapitan Andreevo in August, and the project is targeted for completion in the summer of 2027.
Drawing attention to the fact that long waits slow down supply chains, the International Road Transport Union urged the expansion of digital customs practices.
Allegations of bribery and fines on the Romania route
Complaints by Turkish truck drivers carrying freight to Romania regarding demands for bribes and unfair fines by the Romanian police have prompted action from ministries.
As a result of initiatives by the Ministries of Trade and Foreign Affairs, the Romanian Ministry of Interior has committed to evaluating every case reported by drivers.