Bulk cargo transportation from China to Turkey mainly relies on sea transportation on the Mediterranean route, the land bridge railway across Europe and Asia, and emerging road transportation. For importers, the core of choosing a transportation method is to balance cost, timeliness and the physical properties of the goods. Usually, shipping containers (FCL) are the most cost-effective solution, and for heavy equipment or oversized cargo, roll-on-roll-off ships (Ro-Ro) and MAFI flatbed trucks are key tools to solve complex logistics.
Main transportation modes from China to Türkiye
- Sea Freight: the first choice for bulk trade
Maritime transport carries more than 80% of the cargo volume in China-Turkish trade. Cargo usually departs from China's eastern coastal ports, passes through the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, and finally reaches Turkish ports in the Mediterranean, Aegean Sea or Sea of Marmara. Providing you with 2026 China to United States sea freight: transit time and delivery time guide.
Full container transportation (FCL): suitable for factory purchasing managers or large wholesalers, providing standard cabinet types such as 20GP and 40HQ, with high safety and the lowest cost per ton.
Less than Container Shipping (LCL): For B2B orders with less than one full container of goods, economical transportation is achieved by sharing space costs.
Special cabinets and bulk cargo: For construction machinery and heavy vehicles, in addition to frame cabinets (FlatRack), ro-ro ships and MAFI springboards are professional choices for handling non-standard size cargo. RoRo ships allow vehicles to drive directly into the cabin, while MAFI is used to carry heavy equipment that cannot move on its own.
- Rail Freight: The Rise of the Middle Corridor
With the deepening of the "Belt and Road" initiative, the trains transporting goods from China to Turkey through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, also known as the "Middle Corridor") are becoming increasingly mature. Goods leave the country via Xi'an, Chengdu or Urumqi, cross Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and finally enter Türkiye via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway. The lead time is usually between 18-25 days, which is faster than sea freight and cheaper than air freight.
- Road Freight
This is an emerging way of replenishing bulk goods in recent years. The entire truck transport section goes directly to the entire territory of Türkiye through Central Asian countries, which is suitable for periods when timeliness is high but container train space is tight.
Core ports and logistics hubs
Understanding route nodes can help optimize supply chain layout.
Ports of departure in China: Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Tianjin and Xiamen.
Türkiye destination port:
Istanbul (Istanbul/Ambarli): Türkiye’s largest container port, connecting Europe and Asia.
Izmir: an important export hub in the west.
Mersin: The key gateway to the eastern Mediterranean and the interior of the Middle East.
Gebze: close to the industrial area and handles large amounts of industrial raw materials.
Turkish Customs Compliance and Clearance Documents
Although Türkiye is not a member of the EU, it has established a customs union with the EU. For goods imported from China, the rigor of customs clearance directly determines warehousing costs and fulfillment time.
- List of necessary documents
Commercial Invoice: HSCode (customs code), unit price, total price and trade terms (such as CIF, FOB) must be specified in detail.
Packing List: Accurately describes the gross weight, net weight and packaging form.
Bill of Lading: A document of property title for sea or rail transportation.
Certificate of Origin: Used to prove that the goods are produced in China, and some products can apply for tariff preferences based on this.
Certificate of Analysis (COA) or Quality Certificate: Turkish Customs has strict access standards for chemicals or raw materials.
- Import tax structure
CustomsDuty: According to HSCode query, the tax rate ranges from 0% to more than 20%.
Value Added Tax (VAT): Türkiye’s standard VAT rate is usually 20% (dynamically adjusted according to the latest policies).
Special Consumption Tax (SCT): levied on specific categories such as vehicles and luxury goods.
Anti-dumping duties: Türkiye frequently launches anti-dumping investigations on specific products from China (such as textiles, some steel products), and it must be verified whether there are additional taxes before purchasing.
Key factors affecting transportation costs
When calculating the logistics cost from China to Turkey, you cannot just look at the ocean freight (Ocean Freight).
Fuel surcharge (BAF) and exchange rate surcharge (CAF): fluctuate with the market.
Suez Canal Surcharge: Since all Mediterranean routes must pass through the Suez Canal, if there is congestion or rate adjustment in the canal, it will directly affect the total cost.
Port congestion charges: During peak import periods in Türkiye, core ports such as Istanbul may experience unloading delays.
DDP and DDU model: DDP (delivery after duty paid) requires freight forwarders to have strong local customs clearance and tax processing capabilities. This is the best choice for wholesalers who lack import experience to avoid risks. Here's DDP vs. DDU explained: Key risks, costs and Incoterms.
How to choose a more suitable transportation solution?
For different goods values and properties, experts give the following suggestions:
Heavy machinery and engineering projects: Priority is given to ro-ro ships or MAFI springboards. This method can minimize mechanical damage during the hoisting process and is highly adaptable to over-sized cargo.
Standard industrial goods/fast moving consumer goods: 40HQ full container is standard configuration. Not only is the shipping space relatively stable, but the average freight per unit of goods is the best.
Commodities with high value and urgent need for replenishment: Choose the China-Europe Railway Express (Türkiye Branch Line), which is more stable than sea transportation and is less affected by extreme weather and maritime incidents.
A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls: Three Tips for Global Procurement Managers
Pre-verify HSCode compatibility: The customs codes of China and Turkey may be different in the last few digits. Be sure to ask the Turkish customs clearance agency to confirm the code before shipping to avoid high order change fees or fines at the destination port.
Pay attention to seasonal fluctuations: Every year on the eve of Ramadan and before the Chinese New Year, there are usually peak shipping periods, and competition for space is fierce. It is recommended to book at least 4 weeks in advance.
Improve insurance coverage: Spanning 10,000 kilometers of sea routes or railways, the risks of damage and loss of bulk cargo cannot be ignored. Full freight insurance is a must, especially for rail shipments involving multiple transfers
Professional global supply chain solutions
When dealing with bulk cargo transportation from China to Turkey, complex customs clearance processes and changing international shipping policies are often pain points for companies. As a leading international freight forwarding brand, Presou has been deeply involved in the global supply chain field for more than 10 years and is committed to providing stable and transparent logistics links for global wholesalers and factories.
Our business execution is carried out by Shenzhen Dayuanjun, a wholly-owned subsidiary. With our profound industry experience, we have branches in China's major trade hub cities - Guangzhou, Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Tianjin, and Xiamen, enabling rapid delivery and customs clearance at ports across the country.
The core advantage of Presou is to provide one-stop DDP/DDU door-to-door service. We are not only responsible for basic international transportation, but also solve all complicated matters from customs clearance at the destination port, tax payment to last-mile delivery through the in-depth cooperation network established in Turkey.
We always adhere to the business red line: Presou focuses on logistics support for medium and large cargoes and bulk trade. We do not do small package distribution or personal express delivery, but focus all resources on serving the high-end logistics needs of enterprise-level customers. Whether it is complex special operations of ro-ro ships or coordinated sea-rail combined transportation, Presou and its subsidiary Shenzhen Dayuanjun are your trustworthy partners. Choosing us means choosing a professional team that is well versed in China-Turkish trade rules and has strong offline execution capabilities.
Thank you for watching. I hope we can solve your problems.
Presou is an international freight forwarding company from China, with subsidiaries offering one-stop logistics services—from pickup and customs clearance to home delivery. Over the past ten years, we have established branches in major port cities in China, including Guangzhou, Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Tianjin, and Xiamen.
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