Turkish authorities have increased the transit fee for vessels passing through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits by approximately 15 percent, effective July 1, the country’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure confirmed to RIA Novosti on Wednesday, Al Mayadeen reported.
The new tariff stands at $6.7 per tonne, up from the previous rate of $5.83 per tonne, which had been in place since 2022. The adjustment is part of an annual review process conducted by the ministry.
The hike marks the latest revision in a dramatic shift in pricing policy for one of the world’s busiest and most strategically vital maritime chokepoints.
For nearly four decades, from 1983 to 2022, the transit toll remained static at just $0.80 per tonne. However, in a significant policy overhaul in 2022, authorities raised the fee more than fivefold to $4.08 per tonne.
According to preliminary estimates previously announced by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu, Turkey expects to generate approximately $254 million in revenue from vessel transits through the straits between July 2025 and June 30, 2026. This projected figure represents a $31 million increase compared to the previous fiscal year.
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