Shipping to and from Turkey.
The bridge between Europe and Asia. Our partner network manages imports through Istanbul with full Turkish customs and Middle East/Central Asia distribution.
Turkey freight, coordinated across the whole operating thread.
Turkey is a major trade bridge between Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa. The country imports machinery, vehicles, chemicals, electronics, and fuel; exports textiles, vehicles, chemicals, and food products. Turkish customs is complex but improving (1–3 days typical). Ports of Istanbul and Izmir dominate. Istanbul Atatürk Airport is major hub. Turkey's strategic location makes it ideal for goods destined to Balkans, Middle East, Caucasus, and Central Asia. Currency volatility impacts import costs. Our licensed broker partners operate under Turkish customs broker relationships.
Turkey's customs (Gümrük Müdürlüğü) is improving but slower than EU. Istanbul: 2–3 days standard (sometimes 5–7 if inspection required). Izmir: 1–2 days. VAT 18% standard (reduced rates). Import licenses required for restricted goods. Currency volatility affects duty calculations. Corruption concerns exist (facilitation payments reported). Documentation complex; translation to Turkish often required. Our licensed broker partners operate under Turkish customs broker licenses and navigate bureaucratic challenges.
Annual imports referenced in the country profile.
Annual exports referenced in the country profile.
Trade position and market context.
Routing compared across ocean, air, ground, customs and partner options.
Port of Istanbul
Turkey's largest port (4+ million TEU/year). Bosphorus gateway. 2–3 day clearance.
Port of Izmir
Aegean gateway (2+ million TEU/year). Less congested than Istanbul. 1–2 day clearance.
Port of Mersin
Mediterranean gateway (1.5+ million TEU/year). Middle East gateway. 2–3 day clearance.
Istanbul Atatürk Airport
Istanbul's main cargo hub (900,000+ metric tons/year). Europe-Asia hub.
Ankara Esenboğa Airport
Ankara's airport. Central Turkey gateway.
Istanbul Atatürk
Air cargo gateway — Istanbul.
Ankara Esenboğa
Air cargo gateway — Ankara.
Izmir
Air cargo gateway — Izmir.
What moves through Turkey.
The freight plan changes by product category, Incoterm, customs regime and gateway. These are the trade patterns already documented for this market.
Frequent trading partners
A.TR or EUR.1? The document decides the duty
Turkey and the EU share a customs union, but it covers only part of the tariff. Two different certificates cover the two cases. Picking the wrong one costs money.
| Document | What it proves | Typical cargo |
|---|---|---|
| A.TR movement certificate | The goods move freely inside the customs union | Machines, parts and other factory goods |
| EUR.1 movement certificate | A lower rate under a trade deal | Farm goods, steel, and non-EU partners |
| Invoice declaration | Origin stated by a seller with approval | Small loads, where the rules allow it |
| Certificate of origin | Plain origin, with no rate claim | Markets outside any trade deal |
| Long-term supplier declaration | Origin cover for repeat shipments | A steady flow from the same seller |
| Nothing filed | Nothing at all. You pay the full rate | Any load sent without proof |
Product checks before Turkish customs releases
Turkey screens many imports for product safety before release. The check is risk-based and runs online. Set it up early, because it happens while the container waits.
- Risk-based screening — Regulated products are referred for a conformity check when the entry is filed.
- Who signs up — The importer, or an agent acting for them, has to be enrolled in the system first.
- Standards certificates — Some product groups need a national standards certificate before they can be sold.
- An EU mark is not the whole answer — CE marking helps, but Turkish rules may still call for their own file.
- Test reports — Keep laboratory results with the shipment file, not in a drawer at the factory.
- One file per model — Approvals attach to a model or a batch. A new variant needs paperwork of its own.
- Plan for the wait — The check runs after arrival. Terminal free time keeps running while you wait.
- Turkish on the label — Consumer goods usually need Turkish text on the label or on the box.
Istanbul, Izmir or Mersin?
Turkey has three very different sea gateways, plus air options for urgent loads. Choose by where the cargo is going, not by which name you already know. Weigh the sailing options in ocean freight before you fix the port.
| Gateway | Serves | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Port of Istanbul (TRIST) | Marmara industry and the north-west | The widest choice of ships and sailings |
| Port of Izmir (TRIZM) | The Aegean region | Cargo for western Turkey, away from Istanbul traffic |
| Port of Mersin (TRMRSIN) | The Mediterranean coast and the south-east | Onward moves to the Middle East |
| Istanbul Atatürk airport | Air cargo between Europe and Asia | Urgent, light and high-value freight |
| Izmir airport | The Aegean region by air | Small, fast loads for the west of the country |
| Ankara Esenboğa (TRANK) | Central Anatolia | Deliveries in and around the capital |
Getting the Turkish import file right
Turkish entries ask for more supporting paper than a typical EU entry. Prepare it before departure. Fixing a document from abroad is slow work.
- Signed originals — Some entries still call for wet-signed originals rather than scans. Ask before you ship.
- Translation into Turkish — Key documents are often required in Turkish. Budget time and cost for that step.
- Detail on the invoice — Unit prices, currency, delivery terms and payment method all belong on the invoice.
- Consignee must match — The party on the bill of lading has to match the importer on the entry, exactly.
- Written authority to file — Your broker normally needs a signed power to act for you. Arrange it early.
- Insurance shown clearly — If the price includes cover, state the premium. It forms part of the value for duty.
- Licence before arrival — Controlled goods need their approval in place first. Applying on arrival wastes free time.
- Currency and rate — Duty is worked out in lira. The rate used is the official one on the day of the entry.
What keeps a container sitting in Turkey
Delays here trace back to a short list of gaps. Each one can be closed at the booking stage, for free.
- A.TR issued after departure — The certificate should travel with the goods. A late issue invites questions and checks.
- A description that is too broad — The declared goods must match what an officer sees when the box is opened.
- Undeclared spare parts — Free items packed with a machine still need a value and their own invoice line.
- Marks that do not match — Cartons carry marks and numbers. Officers read them against the packing list, box by box.
- No conformity file — Regulated goods without their product paperwork wait at the port until it arrives.
- Untreated wood packing — The ISPM 15 stamp on pallets and crates is checked. Unmarked timber gets refused.
- No proof of payment — Customs may ask how the goods were paid for. Keep the bank record with the file.
- Road leg booked late — Delivery points can sit far from the port. Order the truck when the ship sails.
- No plan for demurrage — Free time at the terminal is short. Agree who pays for it before the ship arrives.
Services available for Turkey.
Turkey shipping questions.
Answered from the country profile and the operating requirements documented for this market.
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