You already know the advantages Turkey offers Belgian companies: a 30–45% cost advantage, the Customs Union, 5–7-day road freight and regular services to Europe's logistics hub. This article explains step by step how Belgian companies, from Ghent to Charleroi and from Antwerp to Liège, place the first order in practice.

Step 1: Prepare the Technical Documents

Belgian drawings are prepared to NBN EN ISO standards and are read without difficulty in Turkey; adding an English equivalent to the critical Dutch or French notes prevents errors. The ideal package:

  • STEP (AP214) 3D model + PDF technical drawing; revision numbers must match.
  • Material with its EN grade (S355J2, C45E, 42CrMo4, 1.4404, EN AW-6082, CW614N); a trade name alone is not sufficient.
  • General tolerance (ISO 2768-mK) in the title block; geometric tolerances with their datums.
  • Surface roughness (Ra), edge break, heat treatment, coating.
  • Annual quantity, batch size, first-order quantity and target date.
  • Documentation expectations: inspection report, EN 10204 3.1 certificate, FAI, AS9102 format in aerospace.

For file-format details see our guide.

Step 2: Request and Compare Quotes

Send the RFQ to 2–3 Turkish suppliers; compare the quotes item by item: unit price (quantity tiers), set-up/programming, certificate, inspection report, packaging, Incoterm and lead time. A supplier who sends DFM or tolerance recommendations with the quote is showing process discipline. For the method see our RFQ guide.

Step 3: Clarify the Commercial Terms

Incoterms

FCA Istanbul (your own forwarder collects) or DAP (the Turkish supplier brings the goods to your door; the import declaration and VAT are yours). Thanks to Antwerp's logistics density, groupage road-freight rates from Turkey to Belgium are competitive. Details are in our Incoterms guide.

Payment

In Belgium 30 days net is common, and the B2B payment law generally limits terms to 60 days. On export sales Turkish suppliers work with a partial advance payment (30–50%) + balance before shipment on first orders and 30–60 days open account in a regular relationship. Euro-based SWIFT transfer is standard.

Contract and confidentiality

An English NDA and quality agreement are sufficient; if you want a French or Dutch version, a bilingual document can be prepared. The governing law and place of dispute resolution should be specified.

Step 4: Sample and First Article Approval

On the first order, request 1–5 sample pieces and a full inspection report based on a ballooned drawing. For aerospace suppliers (the Liège–Charleroi cluster) an FAI in AS9102 format, for automotive a PPAP, for general machinery a standard FAI is sufficient. Verify the report with your own measurement; series production starts after approval. The process is described in our FAI guide.

Step 5: Logistics, Customs and Import

  • Road: 5–7 working days door to door from Istanbul to Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent or Liège; there are numerous weekly groupage services on the Turkey–Benelux route.
  • Air freight: Istanbul–Brussels/Liège 1–2 days (Liège is one of Europe's major cargo airports); express courier 2–3 days for samples.
  • Customs duty: parts enter duty-free under the A.TR movement certificate. Our A.TR guide has the document details.
  • Import VAT: 21% Belgian VAT arises. Companies holding an ET 14000 licence declare the VAT in their periodic VAT return and deduct it in the same return instead of paying it at customs (no cash outflow). If you import regularly, obtaining this licence or using your forwarder's fiscal-representative arrangement protects cash flow.
  • Declaration: the forwarder files the import declaration with your EORI number; commercial invoice, packing list, A.TR and CMR are sufficient.

Step 6: Series Deliveries and Continuous Improvement

Framework agreements and call-off orders are common; Turkish suppliers adapt to monthly or weekly call-offs. An inspection report and 3.1 certificate accompany every batch. After the first 2–3 batches, price, packaging and frequency settle; a material-indexed rule should be defined for the annual price update. For companies distributing from a Belgian warehouse to the Netherlands, France and Germany, Antwerp-based consolidation is a practical solution.

Common Mistakes

  • Paying import VAT at customs every time; ET 14000 protects cash flow.
  • Sending critical Dutch or French notes without translation.
  • Not specifying the FAI format (AS9102) for aerospace parts in the RFQ.
  • Comparing unit price only without equalising the full scope.
  • Expecting terms beyond 60 days; Belgian law also limits this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send technical drawings in French or Dutch?

Yes; dimensions and symbols are international. Adding an English equivalent of critical notes is recommended.

How much time should I plan for the first order?

Quote 1–2 days, sample 1–3 weeks, series 3–5 weeks after approval, freight 5–7 days: the first series batch is typically in your hands in 7–10 weeks.

How does the process work in case of a complaint?

Notification with photos and measurement evidence, an 8D report, re-production or credit note; defined in writing in the quality agreement.

Do I need to visit the supplier in Turkey?

Not mandatory; a same-day or overnight audit is possible with the 3.5-hour direct flight Brussels–Istanbul.

Conclusion

Outsourcing CNC machining from Belgium to Turkey is a predictable process consisting of the right file package, an itemised quote, sample approval and an import simplified by A.TR + ET 14000. Send your technical drawings and quantity information via our quote form; you will receive an itemised, euro-based quote within 24 hours. For the process steps see our how we work page.