Boltas Provides Strong Support for Ro-Ro Transport

Ro-Ro shipments between Turkey and Europe increased by 68 percent over five years. Boltas, a half-century-old brand in the logistics sector, continues its pioneering role by supporting new operators and routes in international Ro-Ro transportation and strengthening competition in the sector. The company became the most important supporter of the new Ro-Ro route starting on the Ambarlı–Trieste line.

According to maritime statistics from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the number of transport vehicles such as trucks, trailers and wagons using regular Ro-Ro routes between Turkey and Europe increased by 68 percent in January-October compared with the same period in 2019. Boltas, one of the pioneers of import-export transportation by Ro-Ro in Turkey, ranks among the logistics companies contributing most to new developments that will intensify competition in this field.

Boltas Board Chairman Ulaş Çobanoğlu stated that Grimaldi Group's entry into Ro-Ro transportation on the Turkey-Italy route is a positive development for the sector's future, emphasizing that just as in the past, today they stand behind every move that will increase Turkey's competitive power in export markets and develop its foreign trade.

"We strongly support Grimaldi's new Ro-Ro investment"

Reminding that they are among the companies that have most frequently used Ro-Ro shipments from Turkey to Italy over many years, Çobanoğlu said: "My father Necmi Çobanoğlu was among the pioneers who played a leading role in the start of Ro-Ro transportation between Istanbul and Trieste. Today, drawing strength from our past, we believe that Grimaldi Group's investment in Turkey is of great importance for the development of our foreign trade. We are the brand that has used the route opened by Grimaldi Group most intensively from the first sailings. We have led the sector in this regard. We strongly support this investment. If there are new investments on different routes and new operators enter the market, we will support them as well."

Noting that Grimaldi operates two weekly reciprocal sailings on the Turkey-Italy route and that they expect this to increase in the short term, Çobanoğlu said: "Ro-Ro transportation offers significant advantages to importers and exporters in terms of timely delivery, cost and low carbon emissions."

Ro-Ro shipments boost foreign trade

Pointing out that approximately 405,000 trucks, tank trucks, trailers, wagons, tractors and semi-trailers used regular Ro-Ro routes between Turkey and Europe in January-October, Çobanoğlu also noted:

"This figure represents a 68 percent increase compared with the same period in 2019. According to TÜİK data, trade volume between Turkey and Greece, Italy, France, Spain and Belgium, which have direct Ro-Ro routes with Turkey, increased by 56 percent in the January-September period. This rate is above the increase in overall trade with the EU.

It is clear that the importance of Ro-Ro routes will increase further in the coming period when EU Green Deal rules are implemented. As Boltas, we are particularly encouraging our exporters to use European Ro-Ro routes much more intensively."