A Qualitative Analysis of the Impacts of the February 6 Earthquakes on Türkiye’s International Trade and Logistics Systems

Abstract

The earthquakes that struck Kahramanmaraş on 6 February 2023 exposed critical and concurrent vulnerabilities in Türkiye’s international trade and logistics systems at infrastructural, operational, and institutional levels. Adopting a phenomenological qualitative design, this research draws on semi-structured interviews with nine business representatives operating directly in the affected regions to conduct an in-depth examination of sectoral impacts. Thematic content analysis gathered the findings under five main axes: the physical fragility of the logistics infrastructure, interruptions that disrupt continuity in the supply chain, coordination gaps between public institutions, adaptation strategies of businesses during the crisis, and structural reform requirements. The results reveal that damage to road and port connections, destruction of storage facilities, and electricity–water outages brought logistics flows to a near standstill, while cold-chain breakdowns, delays in raw material procurement, and order cancellations intensified commercial losses. Ambiguities in institutional authority and protracted administrative procedures compelled firms to implement ad hoc measures such as alternative routing, temporary warehousing, and manual tracking systems. The study underscores the urgent need for integrated policy frameworks centred on resilient infrastructure investments, accelerated customs and permitting processes, sector-specific contingency planning, and strengthened public–private collaboration to enhance post-disaster trade and logistics resilience. By grounding its conclusions in field-based micro-level evidence, the research not only makes an original contribution to the disaster logistics literature but also offers actionable strategic roadmaps for policymakers aiming to sustain international trade operations under extreme disruption conditions.