One of the biggest concerns about foreign contract manufacturers is: “How long does shipping actually take?” With suppliers from Asia, this concern is justified—but in the case of Turkey, the reality is different.

The Customs Union: No Import Duties on Industrial Goods

Since 1996, Turkey and the EU have maintained a customs union for industrial goods. Specifically, for CNC-machined metal parts, this means that provided the origin documentation (A.TR certificate) is in order, no import duties are generally levied. This significantly simplifies cost calculations and eliminates the premium that buyers would otherwise have to factor in for imports from third countries.

Transport Routes and Realistic Transit Times

The standard route for palletized turned parts is truck transport via Bulgaria to Central Europe. Depending on the pickup region in Turkey and the destination in Germany, the pure transit time is usually just a few days—significantly faster than any ocean freight and without the uncertainties of port congestion or container shortages, which have repeatedly made headlines in recent years.

Air freight is also an option for urgent or smaller shipments, but due to the cost, it is usually used only for samples or urgent cases.

What This Means for Your Planning

  • Sample parts: Usually ready for shipment within [X] days after tool/program approval
  • Batch deliveries: Delivery time depends on batch size and production capacity—we will specify firm deadlines in the quote
  • Incoterms: We typically ship under [EXW / FCA / DAP — please specify]; please let us know which shipping term works best for your logistics needs

Customs Clearance in Practice

Unlike imports from non-EU countries that are not part of a customs union, the majority of the usual customs formalities for commercial imports are waived provided the A.TR documentation is in order. We provide the necessary accompanying documents for each shipment, ensuring that no additional administrative burden is placed on the German side.

Conclusion

Those who source CNC-machined parts from Turkey benefit from a combination that few other procurement markets can offer: duty-free trade through the customs union, short truck transit times to Central Europe, and thus a supply chain that is significantly easier to plan than imports from the Far East.

Do you have any logistics questions regarding your specific project? Please let us know your destination region and the quantity—we’ll include a transparent estimate of delivery time and shipping costs in our quote.