Import & export trade consulting

Three reasons: (1) EU Customs Union, Turkish-origin industrial goods enter the EU tariff-free, while direct China-to-EU goods pay 5 to 25 percent tariffs; (2) logistics hub, Istanbul ports plus the China-Europe rail terminus enable 7-day delivery across Europe; (3) anti-dumping shelter, Turkish-processed goods may avoid the anti-dumping duties applied to Chinese direct exports. The catch: the goods must have substantial Turkish content or transformation to qualify as Turkish-origin. We help you design compliant supply-chain structures.

Core documents: (1) commercial invoice; (2) packing list; (3) certificate of origin (Form A for GSP, EUR.1 for EU Customs Union, generic CO for others); (4) bill of lading or air waybill; (5) import declaration (Gümrük Beyannamesi); (6) DAB (foreign-currency purchase certificate) for payment; (7) product-specific certificates (CE marking, halal, etc.). Controlled goods need additional permits. We handle full clearance through Turkish customs brokers.

Turkey applies its Common Customs Tariff for non-EU origin (which includes China). Typical rates: machinery 1 to 5 percent, textiles 8 to 12 percent, electronics 0 to 14 percent, apparel 12 percent, consumer goods varied. KDV (VAT) of 1, 10, or 20 percent is also charged on the CIF value plus duty. We pre-check the HS code and tariff for any target shipment before you commit to the deal.

Free Zones (Serbest Bölge) are designated areas where companies can import raw materials, process or manufacture, and re-export with zero customs duties and reduced corporate tax. Best for: (a) Chinese exporters processing goods in Turkey for re-export to the EU or MENA; (b) inventory holding for European customers without paying full Turkish duty until sale; (c) reduced 0 to 5 percent corporate income tax. Major zones: Istanbul (Trakya), Izmir (Ege). We compare zone vs onshore options for your specific case.

Turkey has bilateral currency-swap arrangements with China and CIPS access. RMB direct settlement is increasingly common in 2026. Options: (a) RMB CIPS direct payment to a Turkish bank's RMB account; (b) USD or EUR settlement followed by FX conversion; (c) Hong Kong or Singapore intermediate accounts. We help you set up the right banking structure and DAB documentation so the export flow is CIPS-compliant.

DAB (Döviz Alım Belgesi) is the official foreign-currency purchase certificate that Turkish banks issue when foreign currency enters Turkey. For exports it is relatively simple, but for imports paying out from Turkey, every foreign-currency outflow needs corresponding DAB documentation aligned with the import declaration. Mismatched DAB documentation is the single biggest source of trade-finance disputes in Turkey. We pre-design the DAB workflow for every transaction.