Specials - ITJ | Transport Journal

TURKEY &GREECEPhoto: thinkstockTurkish boom and Greek bust both loose momentumJoy and sorrow on the BosphorusSo far the boom that Turkey experienced in 2012 has not continued into 2013, as demand in the Middle East declined by almost 10%,strongly affecting Turkey. Exports to European markets on the other hand picked up strongly. The recession in Greece, on the otherhand, has seemed to bottom out, and the country is benefiting from the growing support of its shipping companies.Last year the sky seemed to be the limitfor growth in the logistic sector in Turkey,with exports – especially to Arab countries– booming, impressive infrastructureplans – such as the Marmaray railtunnel under the Bosphorus – nearingcompletion and American investmentand consulting firms – such as Colliersand Jones Lang Lasalle – celebrating thecountry as an up-and-coming logisticsmarket in Europe.During the same period the futureof Greece was considered bleak, andthe privileged position of the Greekmerchant navy was strongly criticisedby international partners. Now primeminister Antonis Samaras has been ableto come to an understanding with theUnion of Greek Shipowners, which represents441 shipping companies. Theyhave voluntarily agreed to increase thedues they pay to the government (seepage 48).Projections and growth areasEuphoria in Turkey has slowly givenway to a more realistic assessment of thenational economy. At the end of Junethe government in Ankara presented itsgrowth projection of 5.5% per annum to2018. Annual growth projections to 2013had previously stood at 10%, but in 2012,growth only came in at 2.1%, accordingto the Turkish statistical office. Thetransport and communications sectorswere not unaffected, with the tempestuousgrowth of 10.5% in 2011 shrinking to3.2% in the following year.In the first half of 2013 heavy vehicles,machinery and plant equipment remainedthe engines of growth for Turkishexports, whilst demand for iron and steelsank. The export of jewellery to Arabiccountries declined by 37%. Deliveries tothe EU, on the other hand, rose by almost4%, to account for approximately 41% ofall Turkish exports.Turkish logistics companies, such asEkol Logistics, traditionally focused onthe European market, continue to registerhigh turnover figures in their businesswith Germany, for example. Thetakeover of Mars Logistics, an Istanbulbasedtransporter with a fleet of around1,000 vehicles, by the Japanese multinationalHitachi in July proves that theTurkish logistics sector continues to beinteresting.Greece has grown strongly to the endof the first half of 2013. Observers consideredthe contraction of GDP by just4.6% vis-à-vis the previous year to begood news, and a EUR 1.9 billion (or 1%of GDP) reduction in the national budgetdeficit was simultaneously achieved.In the past year the Greek economy alsoproved to be better than its reputationin the export sector. With 8.8% annualgrowth, results proved very respectable,and a degree of market differentiationwas achieved. This was evidenced by thefact that the decline in exports to EUcountries was more than compensatedfor by improved sales to the USA, Russia,Turkey and the Middle East.Privatisation still on the agendaGreece is also counting on liberalisationof its transport sector. The newly-issuedroad freight concessions came into operationon 30 June, the first round of thetender for the sale of the Greek railwaycompany Trainose is running till 16 September,and the process of privatising twoof the country’s large port operators, inThessaloniki (THPA) and Piraeus (PPA),is about to begin. One of the companiesinterested in an acquisition is the Chineseshipping company Cosco, which alreadyoperates a container terminal in Piraeus.Christian Doepgenwww.tuik.gov.trwww.statistics.gr