How to import from Turkey: a step-by-step guide for buyers
Ten steps from specification to delivery when buying from Turkish manufacturers: finding and checking suppliers, samples, payment, inspection, documents and ports.
Alper AzakoğluForeign trade consultant
4 min read
Updated:
Why buyers source from Türkiye
Türkiye combines a broad manufacturing base, short transit times to Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and trade agreements that can lower your import duty. Industrial goods travel to the European Union under the EU–Türkiye Customs Union, and Türkiye has free trade agreements with many other countries.
The risks are the same as in any distant purchase: choosing the wrong supplier, paying before checking, and finding problems only when the container is opened. The steps below are built to remove those risks one by one.
Ten steps from idea to delivery
- Write the specification. Materials, sizes, tolerances, quantity, packing, labels, target price and delivery date. A clear specification is the basis of every quote and inspection.
- Check your import rules first. Your HS code, duty rate, required certificates and labelling: what is an HS code.
- Find manufacturers. Customs records show which Turkish companies export your product, to whom and how regularly. That is a stronger signal than a marketplace profile.
- Verify the shortlist. Registration, real address, export history, certificates and capacity: supplier checks before the first order.
- Compare quotes on the same basis. Bring every quote to the same delivery term and compare landed cost, not unit price.
- Approve a sample. Keep a sealed, signed reference sample; production and inspection are judged against it.
- Sign the order. Proforma invoice, delivery term, payment terms, lead time, quality standard and what happens if goods do not match.
- Follow production. Ask for progress photos at agreed points, so delays appear early.
- Inspect before loading. Quantity, packing, labels and a visual check against the sample, before you pay the balance.
- Ship and clear. Check the documents before departure and pass them to your customs broker.
Watch out
If a supplier’s bank details change by email, confirm by phone with a person you already know before you pay. Changed-bank-details fraud is one of the most common losses in international purchasing.
Documents you should receive
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Value, product descriptions and terms; the basis of your import declaration |
| Packing list | Packages, weights and dimensions; checked at loading and at your customs |
| Bill of lading or transport document | Proof of shipment; under a letter of credit, the key document |
| A.TR movement certificate | For industrial goods to the EU under the EU–Türkiye Customs Union |
| EUR.1, EUR-MED or origin statement | For preferential duty under a free trade agreement, where your country has one with Türkiye |
| Certificate of origin | When your customs or buyer asks for proof of origin without preference |
| Product certificates and test reports | Whatever your market requires for the product (for example CE documents) |
Main export ports
Most container shipments leave from Mersin, the Istanbul ports of Ambarlı, İzmir (Alsancak and Aliağa) and Gemlik. Road transport is common to Europe and neighbouring countries. Ask your supplier which port is closest to the factory; it affects inland costs and transit time.
Your eyes and ears in Türkiye
We verify the manufacturer, visit the factory, follow production and inspect your goods before loading. Reports in English; paid only by you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay import duty on goods from Turkey?
It depends on your country, the product and the documents. EU buyers of industrial goods generally pay no customs duty with an A.TR certificate; countries with a free trade agreement with Türkiye may give lower duty with an origin certificate. Check your own tariff before you order.
Which delivery term should I ask for?
FCA for containers handed over at the factory or a Turkish terminal; FOB or CIF for conventional sea cargo; DAP if you want the supplier to deliver to your door. Write the place and “Incoterms® 2020” in the contract: Incoterms 2020 in one table.
How should I pay a new Turkish supplier?
Split the risk: a deposit with the order and the balance after a pre-shipment inspection or against a copy of the bill of lading, or a letter of credit for larger orders. Avoid paying everything in advance to a supplier you have never checked.
Can someone check the factory for me?
Yes. Our sourcing agent service covers supplier checks, factory visits, production follow-up and inspection before loading. We are paid only by you.
Sources
- European Commission, EU–Türkiye Customs Union: policy.trade.ec.europa.eu
- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade, free trade agreements: trade.gov.tr
- International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Incoterms® 2020: iccwbo.org
Author
Alper Azakoğlu
For 30 years he has worked as foreign trade consultant and foreign trade manager for manufacturers in industrial zones across Türkiye. He writes these guides from his own work in the field.