Key points
- Sea is the volume route; the Middle Corridor trades cost certainty for speed.
- Routes through Iran are high risk as of November 2026 and are not offered as standard.
- The EU customs union does not shield Chinese-origin goods from Türkiye's additional duties.
- KDV (VAT) is 20% for most goods, charged on customs value plus all duties.
- Check TAREKS conformity control and the HS-level duty lines before you place the order.
Three ways to move goods from China to Türkiye
Türkiye sits at the western end of two very different supply lines from China. The sea route brings containers through the Strait of Malacca and either the Suez Canal or around Africa into the Mediterranean ports. The overland Middle Corridor crosses Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Georgia and enters Türkiye by rail at Kars or by road at Sarp. Which one fits depends on your volume, your deadline and how much schedule risk you can carry.
- Main ports: Mersin, Ambarlı and other Istanbul terminals, İzmir/Aliağa, Gemlik and Kocaeli
- Typically about 30–40 days China to Istanbul, depending on whether ships use Suez or the Cape of Good Hope
- Lowest cost per CBM for full containers and heavy goods
- Bill of lading is a document of title, which suits L/C and documentary collection payments
- China to Khorgos or Alashankou, Kazakh rail to Aktau or Kuryk, Caspian vessel to Baku, then Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway
- Plan on about 18–30 days to Türkiye; best block trains are quoted at 13–17 days to Europe
- The Caspian crossing is the bottleneck: limited vessels, weather and port waits
- Avoids Russia and Iran
- Through Kazakhstan, the Caspian ferry, Azerbaijan and Georgia into Türkiye at Sarp
- Around 18–30 days depending on the ferry; door-to-door delivery without port handling
- Sealed under a TIR carnet, so no duty is paid in transit countries
- Suits part loads, urgent orders and inland Anatolian consignees
Sea freight to Mersin, Istanbul and İzmir
Choose the port by where the goods will be used, not by the lowest ocean rate. Mersin is the largest container port on Türkiye's Mediterranean coast and the natural gateway for southern Türkiye and onward trucking to Iraq. Ambarlı and the other Marmara terminals serve Istanbul and the industrial belt around it. İzmir and Aliağa cover the Aegean. Discharging at the wrong port can add a long domestic truck leg that cancels out the saving on freight. Red Sea and Suez routing decisions are made by the carriers, so transit times quoted today can change with the next sailing.
| Port | Region served | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Mersin (MIP) | Southern Türkiye, Çukurova, transit to Iraq | Largest Mediterranean container port in Türkiye |
| Ambarlı, Marport, Kumport | Istanbul and Thrace | Consumer goods, distribution to Marmara |
| Gemlik, Kocaeli/İzmit | Bursa, Kocaeli industrial zones | Automotive and industrial supply chains |
| İzmir, Aliağa, Nemrut | Aegean region | Textiles, machinery, regional distribution |
| İskenderun | Hatay, eastern Mediterranean | Steel and transit to Iraq |
The Middle Corridor by rail or TIR truck
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route has grown since 2022 because it avoids Russian transit. Kazakhstan Railways quoted 13–17 days China to Europe on its best block-train services in September 2026 and is targeting 10–12 days, but real shipments have ranged far wider because of the Caspian crossing, falling water levels and port congestion. For Türkiye, plan on about 18–30 days unless you are on a dedicated block train. Our China to Turkey and Europe service by Middle Corridor and TIR trucks is running, with a published typical door-to-door transit of 15–25 days, and our team confirms the current timing at booking.
Duties: what the EU customs union does and does not do
Türkiye has been in a customs union with the EU since 1996 for industrial and processed agricultural goods, and it applies the EU's Common Customs Tariff to imports from third countries such as China. Many people read that as 'Chinese goods pay EU duty in Türkiye'. That is only the first layer. Türkiye adds its own additional customs duties (ilave gümrük vergisi, IGV) to goods from countries without a free trade agreement with it, which includes China, plus anti-dumping duties and import surveillance. Because these measures follow origin, Chinese goods that were first cleared in the EU and arrive with an A.TR certificate can still be charged IGV or anti-dumping duty in Türkiye.
| Charge | Base | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty (GV) | Customs value (CIF) | EU-aligned rates, many industrial goods 0–12% |
| Additional customs duty (IGV) | Customs value | Applies to China origin; the 2026 Import Regime lists rates up to 48% on 4,344 lines |
| Anti-dumping or countervailing duty | Per kg, per unit or % | Many measures target Chinese steel, tyres, yarns, footwear, glassware, ceramics and more |
| Surveillance document | Unit value vs reference price | Needed for listed goods below the reference value; 172 products listed in 2026 |
| KDV (VAT) | Customs value + all duties | 20% standard; 10% and 1% for some goods |
| ÖTV | Listed goods | Cars, fuel, tobacco, alcohol and some durables |
Cars are a special case. On 22 September 2025, Decree No. 10436 replaced the China-specific car duties with blanket additional duties on cars from non-FTA countries by engine type, for example 30% or USD 8,500 per electric car, whichever is higher. Reports on the 2026 vehicle rates are not fully consistent, so the exact line must be checked before you commit. Our separate guide on Türkiye's additional duty on Chinese goods walks through the IGV layer in detail.
Clearing customs in Türkiye, step by step
- Classify the goodsFind the 12-digit GTİP code and check the Import Regime, the IGV list, anti-dumping measures and surveillance for that line.
- Check conformitySee whether the product falls under TAREKS product-safety control, CE marking, or approvals from bodies such as BTK for radio devices or TİTCK for cosmetics and medical devices.
- Ship and file the summary declarationThe carrier files the entry summary declaration before arrival by sea, rail or road.
- Temporary storageGoods go to a customs warehouse or temporary storage area at the port or border.
- TAREKS applicationIf required, the importer applies before the customs declaration and the result feeds into it.
- Customs declarationA licensed customs broker files the declaration in the BİLGE system with all documents.
- Risk channelCustoms assigns green, yellow (document check), red (physical inspection) or blue (post-clearance audit).
- Pay and releaseDuties and KDV are paid and the goods are released for delivery.
Documents your supplier and broker will need
China to Türkiye document set
0/9Check your understanding
China to Türkiye quick check
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Turkey take?
By sea, typically about 30–40 days to Istanbul depending on routing. Via the Middle Corridor by rail or truck, plan on about 18–30 days, with wider swings when the Caspian crossing is congested.
Which Turkish port is best for goods from China?
Mersin for southern Türkiye and Iraq transit, Ambarlı or other Istanbul terminals for Marmara, İzmir/Aliağa for the Aegean. Pick the port closest to your warehouse.
Does the EU customs union mean Chinese goods pay EU duty in Turkey?
Türkiye applies EU-aligned base duties, but it also adds its own additional customs duties, anti-dumping duties and surveillance to many Chinese-origin goods.
What is the VAT on imports into Turkey?
KDV is 20% for most goods, with 10% and 1% for some. It is calculated on the customs value plus all duties.
Can I ship from China to Turkey through Iran?
As of November 2026 routes through Iran carry war and sanctions risk. We do not offer them as a standard service, and any such request needs a compliance review.
Do I need TAREKS for imports from China?
Many consumer and industrial products, such as toys, electrical goods, textiles and PPE, are subject to TAREKS control before customs clearance. Check by HS code.
Is there still a EUR 30 duty-free limit for parcels to Turkey?
No. Since 6 February 2026 the simplified EUR 30 regime for B2C e-commerce parcels has been abolished and parcels need full customs declarations.
Sources
- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade: customs, Import Regime, TAREKS
- European Commission: EU–Türkiye Customs Union
- IKV: 2026 interim changes to the Import Regime published in the Official Gazette (11 July 2026)
- SteelRadar: 2026 Import Regime, customs duties and procedures changed for thousands of items
- EY Global Tax News: Türkiye removes simplified entries for B2C e-commerce imports
- EY Global Tax News: Türkiye removes additional tariffs on US, China and introduces blanket tariffs for motor cars
- Trend.az: Middle Corridor targets transit period reduction to 12 days (25 September 2026)
- Times of Central Asia: Kazakhstan Middle Corridor railway and Caspian bottlenecks
General information checked on the date shown. Rules and rates change: our team confirms the details for your shipment.