SOCAR Terminal, operating under SOCAR Türkiye, has once again demonstrated its leadership in Türkiye’s maritime industry by receiving two prestigious honours from International Finance in 2025: “Most Integrated Port Operator – Türkiye” and “Best CFO – Maritime Transportation – Türkiye,” awarded to its Chief Financial Officer, Kutlu Vardar. These accolades highlight the company’s dual strength in operational excellence and financial stewardship, both of which shape the future of port logistics in the region.
During an interaction with International Finance, Uygun Degirmenci, CEO and General Manager of SOCAR Terminal, said, “We are honoured to be recognised as Türkiye’s Most Integrated Port Operator for 2025. This award reaffirms our commitment to sustainability, digital transformation, and seamless operational excellence. At SOCAR Terminal, we look beyond today’s needs, shaping solutions for the future of global trade. Guided by innovation, environmental responsibility, and long-term value creation, we remain determined to set new benchmarks for our industry.”
The SOCAR Terminal is one of the largest container and general cargo port in Türkiye’s Aegean Region. With a 700-metre continuous quay, 16.5-metre water depth, and an annual capacity of 1.5 million TEUs, the facility is one of the few in the country capable of accommodating Ultra Large Container Ships (ULCS). Its 48-hectare area, equipped with three ship-to-shore cranes, ten rubber-tyred gantry cranes, and advanced land-side infrastructure, ensures the safe and efficient handling of multiple vessels simultaneously.
The terminal achieved strong results in 2024, handling 541,114 TEUs and hosting 630 vessels. These operations contributed directly to Türkiye’s imports and exports while generating regional economic value through customs, warehousing, and transport services. By mid-2025, the terminal had already processed more than 257,000 TEUs, sustaining its growth momentum.
Beyond container operations, SOCAR Terminal has become a hub for general cargo and heavy-lift projects, particularly in the renewable energy sector. Wind turbine components and oversized project cargo have strengthened the port’s expertise, while land-side operations achieved 226,465 gate movements in 2024, demonstrating high levels of efficiency in integrated logistics.
Digital transformation is central to SOCAR Terminal’s strategy. The company has introduced automated gate systems, pre-gate applications, AI-assisted cargo damage detection, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) projects to improve workflow efficiency.
Unified digital platforms provide real-time visibility into operations, enabling faster decision-making, stronger governance, and enhanced customer service. These innovations have set new standards in the industry, reflecting SOCAR Terminal’s belief that technology is the key to sustainable growth.
Sustainability continues to be a core focus of the company’s vision. It has measured its carbon footprint in line with ISO 14064-1:2018 standards and has committed to renewable energy projects, including solar power, while upholding a strict zero-waste policy. With plans to expand handling capacity to one million TEUs, the terminal is positioning itself as a sustainable logistics hub, not just for the Aegean Region, but for Türkiye’s broader trade network as well.
The “Most Integrated Port Operator – Türkiye 2025” award highlights the company’s holistic approach, combining infrastructure excellence, digital innovation, and environmental stewardship. SOCAR Terminal plays a vital role in the nation’s long-term trade strategy, advancing competitiveness in the Aegean Region and beyond.
While infrastructure and technology have remained critical pillars, financial governance has been an equally important driver of SOCAR Terminal’s success. CFO Kutlu Vardar, honoured as “Best CFO – Maritime Transportation – Türkiye 2025,” has redefined financial leadership at the company. With a career spanning PwC, Petkim, Tesco Kipa, and APM Terminals Türkiye, he has built expertise in risk management, financial governance, and digital transformation. Since joining SOCAR Terminal in 2018, Vardar has spearheaded ERP integration, established sustainable cash flow models, and replaced fragmented reporting systems with a unified digital platform for budgeting and consolidation.
These initiatives have improved transparency, accelerated closing cycles, and strengthened governance. For Kutlu Vardar, finance is not merely about numbers but about vision. He views risk as a strategic guide, agility as a necessity, and ethics as the cornerstone of leadership. The International Finance recognition highlights the CFO’s personal achievements and the resilience and transformation of SOCAR Terminal.
Together, these two awards showcase the integrated strength of SOCAR Terminal: world-class infrastructure, cutting-edge digitalisation, sustainable practices, and visionary financial leadership. The company plays a vital role in Türkiye’s global trade ambitions, setting benchmarks for innovation and integration in maritime logistics.
In addition to these achievements, SOCAR Türkiye—the country’s largest foreign direct investor and integrated industrial group—has taken a major step to expand and globalise its port operations under SOCAR Terminal. The company has entered into a strategic partnership with MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), the world’s largest container carrier. Under the agreement signed in Baku on 15 September 2025, MSC’s global port operating subsidiary, Terminal Investment Limited (“TIL”), will become a shareholder in SOCAR Terminal.
Through this partnership, SOCAR Terminal will be integrated into TIL’s extensive global network, enhancing its existing capacity with new equipment and technology investments while improving operational efficiency. Furthermore, the terminal will make significant advances in digitalisation, sustainability, and infrastructure development. SOCAR Terminal is steadily progressing toward becoming not only the Aegean’s but the entire Eastern Mediterranean’s high-technology, secure, and sustainable logistics hub.
SOCAR Terminal’s journey is far from complete. With a commitment to continuous improvement, environmental stewardship, and forward-looking strategies, it is not just responding to today’s demands but actively shaping the future of port operations in Türkiye and beyond.