Country market · entry brief

Exporting to Turkey

Turkey on the world map
A large, genuinely industrial market at the junction of Europe and Asia, with a customs union with the EU that shapes its tariff and a deep domestic manufacturing base in exactly our categories. Certification is familiar because Turkey adopts much of the EU rulebook, but the import-control system and the currency are the practical complications. Best suited to suppliers who can price in a volatile-currency environment and support the product locally.
Best fitComponents, power electronics, industrial sub-assemblies
Poor fitSuppliers who cannot manage currency volatility in pricing
Certification
Moderate
CE largely recognised; TAREKS import control
Tariffs
Moderate
EU customs union for third-country goods
Payment risk
Medium
Lira volatility is the main pricing risk
Logistics
Good
Istanbul, Mersin and Izmir; strong road links
365.4bn USD
Total goods imports (2025)
Large and diversified import profile
World Bank WDI 2025 vintage
228.9bn USD
Manufacturing value added (2024)
Deep industrial base across our categories
World Bank WDI 2025 vintage
60%
Manufacturing share of industry
Manufacturing is central to the economy
World Bank WDI 2025 vintage
~7.5%
Average applied MFN tariff
EU customs union for third-country goods
World Bank WDI (2022)
20%
Import-stage VAT
Charged on customs value + duty
Turkish Revenue Administration (standard VAT rate)
85.9m
Population (2025)
Large young domestic market
World Bank WDI 2025 vintage

1. Your category in Turkey

Pick your category and this section shows what we actually hold for Turkey: how many potential buyers we have verified, what roles they play in the supply chain, and how well they fit. Switch back to All industries at any time.

54verified potential buyers in Turkey
Largest pools: Treadmill controllers 13 · Telecom backup power 10 · Jewellery & accessories 9
Import scale and growth by HS line is not on this page yet. We are wiring the customs statistics for each category and will add them here; until then we quote the figures per enquiry rather than publish an estimate.

“Potential buyers” means the buyers we have verified and listed in our own directory — not every importer in the country. Buyer roles are our own grouping of the roles recorded in that directory. (20 of these records do not yet carry a recorded buyer role.)

2. Entry gate

Turkey sits in a customs union with the EU, which means it applies the EU's common external tariff to goods from third countries and allows goods in free circulation in the EU to move across its border without additional duty. Product rules are largely aligned with the EU, and the import-control system TAREKS decides at the border which shipments need a conformity check.

RequirementStatusWhat it involvesLead timeCostLast verified
CE marking and Turkish alignmentMandatory (listed goods)Turkey has transposed most EU product directives, so CE compliance with a technical file and Declaration of Conformity is the normal route. Certain categories require a Turkish TSE mark in addition.3–6 weeksPendingPending
TAREKS import controlRisk-based, at the borderThe Ministry of Trade's TAREKS system flags regulated products and requires a conformity certificate or an inspection at import. The classification of your product determines whether a check is triggered.1–2 weeksPer shipmentPending
Importer registrationAlways appliesDeclared by a Turkish importer registered with the tax authority and holding the necessary customs credentials. Turkey does not require a Turkish entity from the exporter, but the importer must be Turkish.1–2 weeksPendingPending
Tariff (MFN)Always appliesAverage applied MFN tariff around 7.5%; the rate depends on the HS line and must be confirmed line by line at HS-code level.—On customs valuePending
Tariff (customs union / FTA)Depends on origin and routingTurkey is in a customs union with the EU: goods in free circulation in the EU can enter Turkey without additional duty, and Turkey applies the EU common external tariff to third-country goods. Turkey also has FTAs with a number of countries. Chinese-origin goods shipped directly pay the MFN rate.3–5 days—Pending
VATAlways applies20% standard rate, charged on the customs value plus duty. Recoverable by a Turkish business registered for VAT.—20%Pending
LabellingMandatoryTurkish-language label with product name, the Turkish importer's name and address, country of origin, and safety and usage information. Turkish is legally required, not optional.1–3 weeks—Pending
Turkey is easier than it looks on the technical side, because EU documentation largely carries over. The two real questions are whether TAREKS will trigger an inspection for your product and how you price around lira volatility. Answer both before quoting.

Certification, tariff and clearance figures change. Every row above carries a verification date, and the current requirement is confirmed with your nominated local agent before each shipment.

3. Buyers and channel partners

Leading buyers and channel partners

Every company below is a real business in Turkey taken from our own buyer research, and we have verified that its website is reachable. Names and business types are public; decision-makers, direct emails and phone numbers are reserved for members of the Buyer Directory.

1
TurkcellTelecom operator
Telecom & backup batteries
2
AC/DC Electronic Inc.Istanbul · Distributor / wholesaler
Telecom & backup batteries
3
ARTronic Electronic A.S.Istanbul · Distributor / wholesaler
Telecom & backup batteries

How to use this list: do not mass-mail. Turkish buyers are experienced, direct and price-aware — arrive with a technical file, a real price and a currency plan. A distributor with existing customs and TAREKS experience saves more time than a larger buyer without it.

4. Demand and import profile

Select your HS code and this block shows the import performance of your own category in Turkey — not the country's macro numbers.

Import size & growth

Example: imports of this category run at a double-digit share of the market's total and are growing faster than overall imports.

Example values · to be replaced with OEC / WITS data for your HS line

Source-country mix

Example: China is the largest source, ahead of regional and EU suppliers.

Example values · to be replaced with OEC / WITS data for your HS line

Price band

Example: the mid price band is where Chinese supply competes; the low band is held by regional producers.

Example values · to be replaced with customs / trade data

What we can supply to this market

These are the lines we have found the strongest fit for Turkey. Specifications are on the product pages; tell us your application and we will confirm the model.

PV inverters — Grid-tie and hybrid storage inverters, IP65, WiFi monitoring — supplied for grid-code and conformity programmes Specifications
Portable power stations — 800–3500 W LiFePO4 units, 1–3 kWh — for outdoor, marine and backup demand Specifications
Power-loss regulating equipment — Three-phase, parallel-connected, 10–20% energy saving — for commercial and industrial sites Specifications
Battery and PV test instruments — Test and measurement lines for installation, commissioning and service — the accessory market that follows every certified install Specifications

5. Landed-cost calculator

A static table cannot persuade anyone. Enter your own numbers and see the landed cost. Duty rate and freight are editable so you can test scenarios.

Your shipment

Estimated landed cost

Goods value (FOB)—
Freight and insurance—
Customs value (CIF)—
Import duty—
VAT 20% (on CIF + duty)—
Clearance and local charges—
Certification (amortised)—
Landed cost—
Unit landed cost: — per unit. Duty rate is editable because the exact rate depends on your HS line — confirm it before quoting.

Illustrative calculation only. It excludes anti-dumping duty, excise, port storage and any category-specific surcharge. Confirm the duty rate and local charges with your forwarder before making a commitment.

6. Logistics and customs

Main gateways: Ambarli and Haydarpasa (Istanbul), Mersin, Aliaga (Izmir), Gemlik
Direct sailings from China to Istanbul or Mersin typically 25–35 days
Typical clearance 2–4 days when no TAREKS inspection is triggered
Common hold-ups: TAREKS inspection triggered unexpectedly, Turkish label missing, HS classification disputes
Turkey has strong road freight links into the Middle East and Central Asia — useful for regional distribution

Clearance-day figures change with congestion and policy; treat as indicative and confirm before quoting.

7. Payment, currency and tax

Dominant method: T/T with a deposit, or documentary credit for larger orders
The lira is freely traded but volatile — invoice in USD or EUR and review your pricing more often than once a year
Turkish importers are experienced traders and negotiate payment terms hard
Open account at 30–90 days is common once a relationship is established
Consider export credit insurance given currency and inflation volatility

8. Localisation and communication

These are the details nobody tells you, and one mistake can cost you a customer.

Time zone
GMT+3
Five hours behind Beijing; good overlap
Working week
Mon–Fri
Religious and national holidays cluster around Eid
Preferred channel
Email + phone
Direct conversation closes deals; WhatsApp widely used too
Business language
Turkish / English
English is common in international trade roles
Label language
Turkish required
Legally mandatory
Units
Metric
No conversion issue
Turkish buyers negotiate in a direct, high-pressure style that can read as hostility to newcomers. It is not personal — it is a test of whether your price is real. Hold your price and defend the specification; discounting quickly is read as a signal that the original quote was inflated.

9. Risks and timing

High
Currency — The lira has depreciated sharply over recent years. Invoice in USD or EUR, and re-price on a shorter cycle than you would elsewhere.
Medium
Competition — Turkey's own manufacturing base competes in the same categories, and European suppliers have customs-union advantages. Differentiate on specification and certification.
Medium
Policy — Import-control practice and trade-defence measures are adjusted periodically. Re-check whether TAREKS applies to your product each year.
Medium
Inflation — High domestic inflation makes local costs move quickly. Confirm current freight, clearance and certification costs before quoting.

Frequently asked questions

Is CE marking enough for Turkey?

For most product groups, yes — Turkey has transposed the EU directives. Some categories additionally require a Turkish TSE mark, so confirm the position for your product.

What is TAREKS?

The Ministry of Trade's import-control system. It flags regulated products and requires a conformity certificate or a border inspection, depending on the product's classification.

Does the EU customs union mean duty-free access?

Only for goods in free circulation in the EU. Chinese-origin goods shipped directly to Turkey pay the MFN rate. Goods cleared into the EU and then moved to Turkey can enter without additional duty — confirm the documentation with your customs broker.

What is the import VAT rate?

20% on the customs value plus duty, recoverable by a VAT-registered Turkish business.

How should I handle the currency?

Invoice in USD or EUR and review pricing more frequently than annually. The lira has been volatile and high domestic inflation moves local costs quickly.

Do labels have to be in Turkish?

Yes. Turkish labelling with the importer's details, origin and safety information is legally required.

Tell us what you want to sell into Turkey

Send your product, target quantity and destination port. We check the entry requirements, match potential buyers and work out the landed cost. We reply within one business day (GMT+3 business hours).

Enquiry form

The more specific you are, the faster and more accurate our answer