How to Import from Turkey: A Step-by-Step Guide for Buyers

To import from Turkey, a buyer usually follows the same path: find and check a supplier, confirm the customs (HS) code, agree the Incoterm and payment method, sign a contract, arrange transport and clear the goods through customs in the destination country. The export side in Turkey, meaning the export declaration and release of the goods, is normally handled by the supplier through their own customs broker.

This guide is written for importers, distributors and purchasing managers in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Russia and the Caucasus who are planning a first or repeat purchase from a Turkish manufacturer. We go through the steps in order, show where the seller's responsibility ends and yours begins, and explain when logistics comes in.

What to check before you import from Turkey

The first question is product classification. The HS code sets the import duty rate, VAT, required permits and any restrictions. In the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Belarus and Armenia) a common tariff nomenclature and common customs tariff apply; Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have national rules. A wrong code leads to extra charges and delays, so agree it with your customs broker before signing the contract.

The second question is market compliance. In the EAEU many product groups need a certificate or declaration of conformity with technical regulations (EAC marking), and food products need phytosanitary or veterinary documents. A Turkish manufacturer's own certificate does not usually replace these. The list depends on the product, so confirm current requirements with your broker and the customs authority in your country.

The third question is the supplier. Ask for company registration details, tax number, production address and samples. Experience of exporting to your region and readiness to prepare a full document set in English or Russian are good signs.

Step by step: the import process

Follow this sequence when you buy. At each step, note who is responsible for the result; most delays come from unclear responsibility.

1. Define the product and HS code. With your broker, calculate duties and taxes and find out which certificates are needed.
2. Find and check the supplier. Compare several offers, request samples and, for a large order, visit the factory or a trade fair in Istanbul.
3. Request a quotation with an Incoterm. A price without a delivery term (EXW, FCA, FOB, CIF, DAP) cannot be compared, because the term decides who pays the freight and where the risk passes.
4. Agree the payment method. Advance payment, payment on delivery, documentary collection or a letter of credit: choose according to your level of trust in the seller.
5. Sign a contract or proforma invoice. It should state the product description, quantity, price, delivery term, payment, shipment date and required documents.
6. Meet currency control rules. In Russia and some other countries a foreign trade contract may need to be registered with your bank; check the procedure with your bank.
7. Choose a forwarder and transport mode. Road, sea or rail is chosen by volume, weight and deadline. Our guide on how to choose a freight forwarder in Turkey lists the criteria.
8. Check the documents before loading. The invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and CMR or bill of lading must match each other; see our list of shipping documents.
9. Follow export clearance in Turkey. The supplier registers the export declaration through a broker; without it the truck cannot leave Turkey.
10. Clear customs in your country. Your broker files the import declaration, duties and VAT are paid and the goods are released.
11. Receive the cargo and close the shipment. Check quantity and condition; if there is damage, note it on the CMR and inform the insurer.

Choosing the delivery term and payment method

The most common mistake is misunderstanding how the delivery term affects price and responsibility. Under EXW you collect the goods from the seller's premises and arrange everything yourself, including loading. Under FCA the seller hands the goods to your carrier and clears them for export. Under CIF the seller pays freight and insurance to the port; under DAP the seller delivers to your address without import clearance. For buyers in Central Asia, FCA is often the most practical: export formalities stay with the seller, while your forwarder controls the transport. A full comparison is in our guide to Incoterms 2020.

To compare offers you need a realistic view of transport cost. In sea freight, port and document fees are added to the ocean freight; our article on freight charges explains what a rate includes.

For payment, trust decides. With a new supplier, a partial advance with the balance against documents, or a bank letter of credit, is safer. Full prepayment to an unknown seller is the riskiest option.

Logistics: how goods travel from Turkey

When you import from Turkey into Central Asia or Russia, the goods most often travel by road, but sea or rail is better value for some cargo. Typical goods are textiles, furniture, building materials, household chemicals, packaged food and machinery; from Antalya also fresh fruit and vegetables, natural stone and marble. Each needs the right transport: fresh produce needs a cold chain and speed, stone needs equipment rated for the weight and often a container.

If you buy from several Turkish suppliers, their goods can be collected and consolidated into one truck, which keeps the freight cost per pallet down. Rates depend on the market, season and exchange rates, so do not fix a delivered price with the seller before you have a calculation from your forwarder. Our Central Asia freight page shows the routes we plan.

Common mistakes on a first import

An attempt to import from Turkey rarely fails because of the transport itself; problems usually start earlier, at the contract and document stage.

• Comparing prices from different suppliers without the same Incoterm.
• Not checking the HS code and facing an unexpected duty or certification requirement.
• Allowing differences between the invoice, packing list and CMR.
• Not agreeing packing and palletising for the chosen transport mode.
• Confusing carrier liability with cargo insurance and leaving the goods uninsured.
• Agreeing to full prepayment with a new seller without checks.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I start?

Start with the HS code and a calculation of duties and taxes with your broker. You will then know the landed cost and the list of certificates. After that, choose the supplier and the delivery term.

Who handles export clearance in Turkey?

The Turkish supplier registers the export declaration through their broker, unless the term is EXW. Under EXW this task formally falls on the buyer, which is why importers from Central Asia more often choose FCA.

Which documents are needed for import?

The basic set is the contract, commercial invoice, packing list, transport document (CMR, bill of lading or CIM/SMGS rail waybill) and certificate of origin. Depending on the product, EAEU conformity documents and phytosanitary or veterinary certificates are added.

How long does a first shipment take?

Preparation, meaning finding a supplier, signing the contract and certification, can take from a few days to several weeks. Road transport to Kazakhstan takes about 7–10 days; sea and rail take longer.

BNK Logistics (BNK Lojistik), based in Muratpaşa, Antalya, plans road, sea and rail shipments from Turkey to Central Asia, Russia and the Caucasus, can consolidate cargo from several suppliers into one truck and gives a tracking link with documents, photos and video for every vehicle. To plan your shipment, send your details through our quote form or call +90 542 485 53 70 or message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 485 53 70.

Updated: October 16, 2026