Following the fall of the Baath regime, trade in new and used vehicles to Syria via transit from many European countries, primarily South Korea, gained momentum. In 2012, the total number of shipments was around 40-50 thousand, but in the last month of the provisional government’s office, this figure exceeded 150 thousand.

The trade of new and used vehicles to Syria from South Korea and several European countries was significantly restricted in 2013 due to the escalating civil war.

After the fall of the Baath regime, trade picked up speed once again.

The transportation of new and used vehicles via transit through Turkey is being carried out with special permits obtained from the Ministry of Commerce.

Vehicles arriving at Mersin Port via sea transport pass through customs procedures at Cilvegözü Border Gate in Reyhanlı, Hatay with car trailers and then cross to the Syrian side. The logistics company manager Ahmet Arslan, overseeing the transportation, stated, “The arrival of these types of vehicles started in 2012. It was banned in 2013 due to security reasons because of the civil war in Syria. It was restrictedly resumed with special permits granted to some companies by the Ministry of Commerce in 2022. Turkish companies do not have a direct involvement in this trade due to transit trade. Only logistics support services are provided to Syrian merchants.”

“IT WAS ONLY GOING TO IDLIB BEFORE, NOW IT GOES TO ALL OF SYRIA”

Arslan emphasized that during the restricted transfer period, vehicles were only going to Idlib before, but since the liberation of Syria, they have been heading to all of Syria, especially starting from early January. He continued, saying, “The trade is currently being transited through our country, but in the future, it will begin to go to the ports of Syria. They won’t come to Turkey then. Besides used vehicles, new vehicles are also being shipped. Various vehicles are demanded and transported, from passenger cars to trucks and tractor-trailers. We believe that the demand will increase day by day. There was a significant increase in January of this year. In 2012, 40-50 thousand vehicles went annually. Since the ban was lifted, 150 thousand vehicles have gone from January to date.”