The role of the Middle Corridor in global supply chains and SWOT analysis of Turkiye’s logistics infrastructure


Abstract views: 208 / PDF downloads: 75

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15637/jlecon.2989

Keywords:

Middle Corridor, Turkiye, Logistics Infrastructure, SWOT Analysis

Abstract

This study analyzes the increasingly strategic role of the Middle Corridor within global supply chains and evaluates Turkiye’s logistics infrastructure along this route through a SWOT analysis framework. The primary aim is to provide a holistic assessment by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of Turkiye’s logistics capacity in light of current global developments, while also examining related opportunities and threats. Findings reveal that, thanks to its geographical advantage and substantial infrastructure investments in recent years, Turkiye possesses the potential to become not only a transit country but also a multimodal logistics hub. Projects such as Marmaray, the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) railway, and Istanbul Airport strengthen this potential; however, lack of modal integration, insufficient digitalization, and a shortage of skilled labor present critical constraints. In addition to offering actionable recommendations for policymakers, the study also opens new avenues for future research. By evaluating Turkiye’s logistics infrastructure through a SWOT-based lens in the context of the Middle Corridor, this research provides a distinct scholarly contribution to the academic discourse on the subject.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

ABDUL RAHMAN, N. S. F., LIRN, T.-C., HAMID, A. A. & ALKALBANI, K. S. S. (2023). Logistics Business Sustainability Incorporating National Logistics Strategy and Industry Revolution 4.0. Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 16(3), 341–351.

ACAR, M. F. (2021). Lojistik Etkinlik: Türkiye ve OECD. Avrupa Bilim ve Teknoloji Dergisi, 23, 512–517.

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK. (2014). CAREC Corridor Performance Measurement and Monitoring (CPMM) Forward-Looking Retrospective.

ASO. (2023). Türkiye-U.S. Trade and Investment Council DRAFT AGENDA. [Online]. Available at: https:// www.aso.org.tr/uploads/attachments/BİLGİ NOTU.pdf [Date Accessed: 25/5/2025].

AYDIN, K. (2022). A Strategic Base in the Global Supply Chain: Türkiye. Studia Europejskie, 26(3), 117–141.

AYTEKIN, A., KORUCUK, S. & KARAMAŞA, Ç. (2023). Ranking countries according to logistics and international trade efficiencies via REF-III. Journal of Intelligent Management Decision, 2(2), 74–84.

BALKAN, D. & AKYÜZ, G. A. (2023). Logistics Sector Turnover: Forecasting for Türkiye, EU27 and EA19 under Effects of COVID-19. Logistics, 7(2), 23.

BAYRAKTAR, E., ERYARSOY, E., KOSANOGLU, F., ACAR, M. F. & ZAIM, S. (2024). Unveiling the drivers of global logistics efficiency: insights from crosscountry analysis. Sustainability, 16(7), 2683.

BIÇAKLAW OFFICE. (2024). Customs Controls in Türkiye: Regulations and Practices. [Online]. Available at: https://www.bicakhukuk.com/en/customscontrols- in-Türkiye-regulations-and-practices/ [Date Accessed: 25/5/2025].

BIRÓ, D. & VASA, L. (2024). Unveiling the Strategic Significance of the Middle Corridor in Global Trade and Geopolitical Dynamics. Economics: The Strategy and Practice, 19(2), 70–83.

BLYDE, J. S. (2014). The Drivers of Global Value Chain Participation: Cross-Country Analyses. In: Synchronized Factories: Latin America and the Caribbean in the Era of Global Value Chains. Springer, 29–73.

BRYSON, J. R., SUNDBO, J., FUGLSANG, L. & DANIELS, P. (2020). Supply chains and logistics services. Service Management: Theory and Practice, 203–221.

ÇAVUŞOĞLU, D., ZORBA, Y. & ESMER, S. (2022). A Set of Criteria for Logistics Center Development: A Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process. Journal of ETA Maritime Science, 10(1), 47–60.

ÇELİKOK, K. & TALİH, Ö. (2023). International Transportation Projects and Türkiye from the Perspective of Transportation Economics. Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 24(2), 400–423.

ÇOPUROĞLU, F., SARIÇİÇEK, R. & AYTEKIN, M. (2017). A study on determinig the problems of firms in Turkish logistics sector. International E-Journal of Advances in Social Sciences, 3(7), 232–239.

DICKEN, P. (2007). Global shift: Mapping the changing contours of the world economy. SAGE Publications Ltd.

ELBERT, R. & RENTSCHLER, J. (2023). The Transcaspian Transport Route–Current Developments and Challenges.

ERDOĞAN, A. (2020). Türkiye’de lojistik sektörünün SWOT analizi. Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 47, 108–116.

FANG, X. (2015). The belt and road initiative: connecting China and Central Europe. International Issues & Slovak Foreign Policy Affairs, 24(03), 3–14.

GASIMOVA, T. & YURCU, M. E. (2023). Zengezur Koridoru’nun Azerbaycan’ın Dış Ticaret ve Lojistik Faaliyetlerine Olası Etkilerinin SWOT Analizi. Dumlupınar Üniversitesi İİBF Dergisi, 12, 1–15.

GHAZINOORY, S., ABDI, M. & AZADEGAN-MEHR, M. (2011). SWOT methodology: a state-of-the-art review for the past, a framework for the future. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 12(1), 24–48.

GULLAR BAGHIR, B. (2024). Digital Revolution: Technological Advancements Shaping Azerbaijan- Türkiye Logistics. Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 30, 90–94.

GURBUZ, M. Ç., YURT, O., OZDEMIR, S., SENA, V. & YU, W. (2023). Global supply chains risks and COVID-19: Supply chain structure as a mitigating strategy for small and medium-sized enterprises. Journal of Business Research, 155(113407).

HANDFIELD, R. B., GRAHAM, G. & BURNS, L. (2020). Corona virus, tariffs, trade wars and supply chain evolutionary design. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 40(10), 1649–1660.

HELMS, M. M. & NIXON, J. (2010). Exploring SWOT analysis–where are we now?: a review of academic research from the last decade. J. Strategy Manag, 3 (3), 215–251.

HILL, T. & WESTBROOK, R. (1997). SWOT analysis: it’s time for a product recall. Long Range Planning, 30(1), 46–52.

HONTZ, E. K. (2022). The Middle Corridor: How Europe Can Transform Central Asia. [Online]. The National Interest. Available at: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/middle-corridor-how-europe-can-transformcentral-asia-204674 [Date Accessed: 25/5/2025].

İGA. (2025). İGA İstanbul Havalimanı’nda Üçlü Bağımsız Pist Operasyonu Başladı. [Online]. Available at: https://www.istairport.com/duyurular/iga-istanbulhavalimani-nda-uclu-bağımsız-pist-operasyonubasladi/ [Date Accessed: 25/5/2025].

İPEKÇİ, E. & TANYAŞ, M. (2021). Soğuk zincir lojistiği uygulamalari ve Türkiye’de soğuk zincir lojistiğinin swot analizi. Dicle Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 26, 46–64.

ISAYEV, K. (2024). ADB reports marked increase in cargo handling along Middle Corridor. [Online]. Available at: https://caliber.az/en/post/adb-reports-markedincrease-in-cargo-handling-along-middle-corridor [Date Accessed: 25/5/2025].

KAMACI, K. (2024). Uluslararası Ticaret ve Lojistik Eğitimi Alan Öğrencilerin Teknolojik Yatkınlıklarının Mesleki Algıları Üzerindeki Etkisi. Eğitim Bilimleri ve Araştırmaları Dergisi, 15(30), 362–385.

KAMACI, K., BAŞKAYA, M. & RAVANOGLU, G. A. (2024). Aksa Tufanı Operasyonu’nun Türkiye’nin İsrail ile olan dış ticaretine etkisi. Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli Üniversitesi SBE Dergisi, 14(4), 1827–1842.

KARASOY, E. N. (2022). Lojistik Yönetimi Bölümü Öğrencilerinin Mesleki Uyum ve Mesleki Algı Düzeylerinin Mesleği Yapma Niyeti Üzerindeki Etkisi. (Unpublished Master’s Thesis), İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü.

KATAMADZE, D. & KATAMADZE, G. (2023). Prospects for the formation of the transport and logistics hub of Georgia. ACCESS Journal: Access to Science, Business, Innovation in Digital Economy, 4(1),71–84.

KAYA, E. (2024). Orta Koridor’un Dünya Politikasında ve Avrasya’da Artan Önemi. Düşünce Dünyasında Türkiz, 15(April), 9–35.

KAZANCOGLU, Y., EKİNCİ, E., MANGLA, S. K., SEZER, M. D. & OZBILTEKIN-PALA, M. (2023). Impact of epidemic outbreaks (COVID-19) on global supply chains: A case of trade between Türkiye and China. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, 85, 101494.

KENDERDINE, T. & BUCSKY, P. (2021). Middle corridor-policy development and trade potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. ADBI Working Paper Series.

KURTOĞLU, A. B. & TATAR, V. (2023). Avrupa Birliği ulaştırma politikası kapsamında doğu-batı koridoru: Bakü- Tiflis-Kars demiryolu ve olası işlevleri. Disiplinlerarası Yenilik Araştırmaları Dergisi, 3(1), 31–40.

LOGISTICS CLUSTER (LCA). (n.d.). Türkiye - 2.1 Port Assessment. [Online]. Available at: https://lca. logcluster.org/turkiye-21-port-assessment [Date Accessed: 10/5/2025].

MENA, C., KARATZAS, A. & HANSEN, C. (2022). International trade resilience and the Covid-19 pandemic. Journal of Business Research, 138, 77–91.

MOTOWIDLAK, U. (2022). Multi-dimensional analysis of synchromodal logistics on the development of sustainable transport corridors from the perspective of reconfiguring European-Asian supply chains. LogForum, 18(3), 335–343.

NOTTEBOOM, T., PALLIS, A. & RODRIGUE, J. P. (2022). Port economics, management and policy. Routledge.

OECD. (2023). Realising the Potential of the Middle Corridor. OECD Publishing.

ÖNDEN, İ., ACAR, A. Z. & ELDEMİR, F. (2018). Evaluation of the logistics center locations using a multi-criteria spatial approach. Transport, 33(2), 322–334.

ORBITSHUB. (n.d.). 7 Major Ports in Türkiye. [Online]. Available at: https://orbitshub.com/7-major-ports-in- Türkiye/ [Date Accessed: 30/4/2025].

ÖZDEMİR, Ç. (2024). Rethinking Eurasian Geopolitics: Assessing Türkiye’s Influence and the Organization of Turkic States’ Impact. Bilig, 110, 79–106.

PANAGIOTOU, G. (2003). Bringing SWOT into focus. Business Strategy Review, 14(2), 8–10.

RAHARYO, A. & SAADY, S. (2020). The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Loan Projects: Analyzing The People’s Republic of China’s Multilayered Multilateralism Strategy to Türkiye (2016-2018). AEGIS: Journal of International Relations, 4(1).

ROUIS, M. & TABOR, S. R. (2012). Regional economic integration in the Middle East and North Africa: Beyond trade reform. World Bank Publications.

ŞAHAN, D. & TUNA, O. (2021). Policy implications on transport infrastructure–trade dynamics: Case of Türkiye. Logistics, 5(3), 47.

ŞAHAN, D. & TUNA, O. (2023). Trade Benefits of Transport Network Expansion Policy in Türkiye. Fiscaoeconomia, 7(2), 1005–1027.

ŞAHİN, B. & TEKTAŞ, N. (2021). Havacılıkta SWOT analizi: Türkiye için durum değerlendirmesi. Akıllı Ulaşım Sistemleri ve Uygulamaları Dergisi, 4(1), 87–98.

ŞENOL, C. & ÜÇIŞIK ERBILEN, S. (2022). Analysis of the Impact of the Middle Corridor on Turkiye in Terms of Geopolitics and Economy in the OBOR Initiative. Coğrafya Dergisi / Journal of Geography, 45, 161–180.

SIRIMANNE, S. N., HOFFMAN, J., ASARIOTIS, R., ASSAF, M., BACROT, C., BENAMARA, H., HANSEN, P., KULAGA, T., PREMTI, A., RODRIGUEZ, L. &

YOUSSEF, F. (2023). Review of maritime transport 2023. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Geneva, Switzerland.

STOJANOVIĆ, I. & PUŠKA, A. (2021). Logistics performances of gulf cooperation council’s countries in global supply chains. Decision Making: Applications in Management and Engineering, 4(1), 174–193.

STRATEGY (2023). Türkiye 3. Parti Lojistik Pazarı Raporu.

T.C. DIŞ İŞLERİ BAKANLIĞI. (n.d.). Türkiye’nin çok taraflı ulaştırma politikası.

TAHİNCİOĞLU, G. (2015). Yeni İpek Yolu için Türkiye kilit olacak. [Online]. Available at: https://www.milliyet.com.tr/ekonomi/yeni-ipek-yolu-icin-turkiyekilit-olacak-2050114 [Date Accessed: 25/5/2025].

TAŞKIN, E. & AKINCI, Ö. S. (2024). Orta Koridorun Tedarik Zinciri Güvenliği Açısından Değerlendirilmesi ve Türkiye’nin Rolü. KMÜ Sosyal ve Ekonomik Araştırmalar Dergisi, 26(47), 1128–1144.

THE WORLD BANK. (2019). Improving Rail Connectivity in Türkiye.

TİCARET BAKANLIĞI. (n.d.). Digital Customs Applications. [Online]. Available at: https://www.trade.gov.tr/customs-formalities/digital-customsapplications [Date Accessed: 10/5/2025].

TREMIN, D. (2012). True Partners?: How Russia and China See Each Other. Centre for European Reform.

TÜİK. (n.d.). İstatistik veri portalı. [Online]. Available at: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Search/Search?text=demiryolu&dil=1 [Date Accessed:10/5/2025].

TULUN, T. E. (2024). The Rising Strategic Importance of Türkiye’s Middle Corridor in Eurasia Amid the Ukraine Conflict. [Online]. Available at: https://avim.org.tr/en/Analiz/THE-RISING-STRATEGIC-IMPORTANCEOF-

TURKIYE-S-MIDDLE-CORRIDOR-IN-EURASIAAMID-THE-UKRAINE-CONFLICT [Date Accessed: 25/5/2025].

UAB. (2017). Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Ulusal Ulaştırma Ana Planı: Cilt 1 – Ulusal Ulaştırma Ana Planı.

UK, Z. C., BASFIRINCI, C. & MITRA, A. (2022). Weighted interpretive structural modeling for supply chain risk management: an application to logistics service providers in Türkiye. Logistics, 6(3), 57.

ÜNAL, A. Y. (2022). Türkiye’nin hava yolunda 2053 hedefi, 61 havalimanı ve yıllık 202,8 milyon yolcu. [Online]. Available at: https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ekonomi/turkiyenin-hava-yolunda-2053-hedefi-61-havalimanive-yillik-202-8-milyon-yolcu/2560524 [Date Accessed: 25/5/2025].

URCIUOLO, L. (2025). The Middle Corridor’s Reality Check: Advancements and Challenges in Port Infrastructure. [Online]. URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskStatistics/comments/ut8a6r/missing_data_what_are_the_implications_of_adding/ [Date Accessed: 25/5/2025].

UTİKAD. (2023). Lojistik sektörü raporu 2023.

ÜNVER, T. (2024). Türkiye’s Future in International Logistics and Foreign Trade. [Online]. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/Türkiyes-futureinternational-logistics-foreign-trade-tolga-ünverphr1f/ [Date Accessed: 25/5/2025].

VASA, L. & BARKANYI, P. (2023). Geopolital and Geo-Economic Importance of the Middle Corridor: A Chompreshive Overview. Eurasian Journal of Economic and Business Studies, 67(2), 20–32.

ZENG, S. (2021). Cross-border supply chain changes, opportunities and countermeasures. E3S Web of Conferences, 253, 3066.

ZEYBEK, H. (2021). Evaluation of the possible use of the Ankara-Sivas High-Speed Railway line for freight transport. Journal of Transportation and Logistics, 6(1), 17–27.

Downloads

Published

2025-10-06

How to Cite

Kamacı, K. (2025). The role of the Middle Corridor in global supply chains and SWOT analysis of Turkiye’s logistics infrastructure. Journal of Life Economics, 12(1), e2989. https://doi.org/10.15637/jlecon.2989

Issue

Section

Research Articles