Ocean Freight to Turkey
Shipping ocean freight to Turkey places your business at the crossroads of Europe and Asia - a geostrategically important economy with the world's 18th-largest nominal GDP. Turkey is a leading producer of textiles, motor vehicles, agricultural products and home appliances, making it an essential destination or source for global trade.
Why Ship to Turkey with iContainers?
Turkey offers a dynamically growing economy, deep port infrastructure, and gateway access to both European and Asian markets. Whether you're importing into Turkey or exporting out, iContainers gives you digital quoting and full service support tailored to Turkey.
Strategic Location & Industrial Base
- Turkey bridges Europe and Asia, providing strategic trade routing.
- Its industrial sectors (textiles, automotive, appliances) generate high import & export volumes.
- For freight forwarders and shippers, Turkey is a gateway to regional trade flows.
Flexible Shipping Services - FCL & LCL
- Full Container Load (FCL) is ideal when your shipment is large enough (e.g., at least six standard pallets) and you want minimal risk of damage or segregation.
- Less-than-Container Load (LCL) suits smaller loads or mixed cargo where cost efficiency and volume flexibility matter.
End-to-End Turkey Expertise
- iContainers covers pickup, export paperwork, ocean transit, Turkey port arrival and inland delivery.
- Multiple major Turkish ports allow optimisation of cost, transit time and final destination logistics.
Ocean Freight Services to Turkey
FCL Shipping to Turkey
Use FCL when your cargo fills a 20′ or 40′ container (e.g., industrial equipment, full pallet loads, retail stock). FCL enables fewer handling steps and faster flow.
LCL Shipping to Turkey
When you're shipping smaller volumes, or testing new SKU/country exposure, LCL helps you control cost while hedging volume risk.
Shipping Costs to Turkey
What Influences Your Ocean Freight Cost?
Key cost drivers into Turkey include:
- Origin region / route (Asia, Europe, Americas)
- Container size & type (20′, 40′, 40′HC, reefer, special)
- Destination port in Turkey + inland haulage to final consignee
- Port handling charges, surcharges, fuel/currency fluctuations
- Seasonal capacity shifts, equipment availability
iContainers provides full transparency, enabling you to budget landed cost into Turkey with clarity.
Container shipping rates
How much does it cost to ship a container to Turkey?
Transit Times to Turkey
Typical Transit Durations
- From Europe: relatively short transit times owing to proximity.
- From Asia / Americas: transit times depend on routing, trans-shipments, and port of entry.
- Inland transport within Turkey (north vs south) can affect final delivery time.
Factors That Affect Delivery Speed
- Number of trans-shipments and vessel calls.
- Port congestion at key Turkish ports (e.g., Istanbul, Mersin).
- Inland logistics from port to final destination.
- Accuracy and completeness of documentation.
Main Ports in Turkey
Turkey offers multiple major container gateways along both the Marmara Sea and Mediterranean coastlines.
Port of Gemlik
An important container port for Turkey, especially automotive exports from the Marmara region.
Port of Ambarlı
Located in Istanbul region, one of Turkey's largest container hubs, with reefer and hazardous cargo services.
Port of Mersin
Situated on the Mediterranean coast, Mersin offers container, RORO and bulk facilities and strong rail-connectivity for Turkey's southern flows.
Choosing the Right Port
- Match origin routing and transit time preferences.
- Consider final inland destination within Turkey (north, south, east).
- Evaluate cost vs transit time trade-offs.
- Check carrier service availability and container equipment at each port.
How to Book Your Shipment to Turkey
Required Documents
Typical required documents for shipping to Turkey:
- Commercial Invoice & Packing List
- Bill of Lading or Sea Waybill
- HS codes and accurate cargo description
- Consignee/importer registration in Turkey and any required customs documentation
- Any permits or certificates for regulated goods
Customs & Regulatory Overview
- Turkey's customs regulations require correct classification, valuation and supporting documents.
- Goods subject to specific certifications (industrial, consumer, agricultural) may require additional paperwork.
- Accurate and early documentation submission helps avoid delays at port and inland delivery.
Step-by-Step Booking Process
- Request an online quote (origin → Turkey, cargo details)
- Compare service types (FCL vs LCL), ports, transit times and cost
- Confirm booking and upload required documents
- Arrange origin container pickup and loading
- Track ocean transit to Turkey port
- Customs clearance in Turkey and inland delivery to consignee
- Final delivery to warehouse, distribution centre or retail site
FAQs About Shipping to Turkey
The cost of shipping a container to Turkey depends on your origin, container type (FCL or LCL), cargo weight and volume, and current market rates. The most accurate way to get a price is to request an instant quote on the iContainers platform, where you'll see all charges itemized before booking.
Transit times to Turkey vary by origin and service. Shipments from nearby ports in the Americas can arrive within days, while shipments from Europe or Asia may take several weeks. When you request a quote with iContainers, estimated transit times are displayed alongside the rates so you can choose the option that best fits your schedule.
The best container type depends on your cargo's size, weight, and characteristics:
- 20' or 40' dry containers for most general cargo
- 40' High Cube for lighter, voluminous goods
- Reefer containers for temperature-controlled products
- Special equipment (open top, flat rack) for oversized items
If you're unsure which option is right for you, our specialists can review your cargo details and recommend the most suitable container type.
References
