Shipping from Iran via Mersin Port: Routes, Process & Transit Times
If you’re shipping from Iran to Mersin is one of the fastest and most connected ways to reach almost anywhere in the world by sea — without touching the Strait of Hormuz. Here’s exactly how the route works, and what to expect at each stage.
Why Mersin?
Mersin International Port, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, is one of the country’s largest container ports and connects to more than 20 shipping lines making regular calls — linking it directly to major ports across North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. For cargo leaving Iran, that means one truck journey to a single Turkish port unlocks sea connections to nearly every major global market.
The route has also proven itself for speed: according to the International Road Transport Union (IRU), cargo moving overland from the Gulf through Iran to Turkey and on to Mersin can reach the Mediterranean in as little as six days — compared to roughly three weeks for the same cargo routed through the Suez Canal.
The Route: Iran → Bazargan/Gürbulak Border → Mersin
Cargo trucked out of Iran crosses into Turkey at the Bazargan-Gürbulak border crossing, the busiest land gateway between the two countries and part of the historic Silk Road route (the modern E80 highway). It’s a 24/7 facility handling several hundred trucks a day. From there, cargo continues overland to Mersin port on Turkey’s southern coast, where it’s loaded onto a container vessel for the ocean leg.
A note on current conditions: as of mid-2026, this border crossing has been experiencing heavy queues — several thousand trucks waiting at times — due to high freight volume. We build this into our route planning and schedule buffer time accordingly, but it’s worth knowing this isn’t always a fast border crossing right now, even though the route itself remains the most efficient option overall.
From Mersin to the World
Once cargo is loaded at Mersin, container vessels connect to major ports including:
- North America: New York/New Jersey, Houston, Miami
- Europe: Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Genoa, Valencia, Algeciras
- Africa & Middle East: Port Said, Alexandria, Jeddah
- South America: Santos, Buenos Aires
Major carriers serving Mersin include Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd, among others — giving real flexibility on schedule and pricing rather than being tied to a single shipping line.
Container Types We Handle
Our specialty from Mersin is FCL (Full Container Load) shipping — 20ft and 40ft HQ containers are our most common bookings, since they suit the majority of export cargo without the handling complexity of LCL consolidation. Other container types and OOG (out-of-gauge) cargo can also be arranged for oversized or unusual loads.
What the Process Looks Like With HAPCO
- Trucking — your cargo is collected in Iran and trucked to the Bazargan-Gürbulak border
- Border crossing & documentation — customs clearance handled on both sides
- Onward trucking to Mersin — delivery to the port container terminal
- Shipping line selection — we choose the carrier and sailing that best fits your destination, cost, and timeline
- Ocean freight — container loaded and shipped to your destination port
- Delivery — cargo continues to your customer’s final location
Get a Route & Cost Estimate
Transit times and costs shipping from Iran vary by destination, cargo type, and current border conditions. Contact HAPCO’s team for a route plan specific to your shipment.
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