You already know the advantages Turkey offers Norwegian companies: a 40–55% cost advantage, the EFTA free trade agreement, and the material and documentation discipline the oil and gas and maritime sectors know. This article explains step by step how to place the first order in practice; as Norway is not an EU member, the customs side differs from EU countries, and we address this in particular.

Step 1: Prepare the Technical Documents

Norwegian drawings are prepared to NS-EN ISO standards and are read without difficulty in Turkey; English drawings are common in Norwegian industry. The ideal package:

  • STEP (AP214) 3D model + PDF technical drawing; revision numbers must match.
  • Material with its EN/ASTM grade; for oil and gas parts, the NORSOK M-630 material data sheet (MDS) reference, duplex/super duplex (1.4462, 1.4410), nickel alloys or carbon steel grade and, where required, NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 compliance must be stated explicitly.
  • General tolerance (ISO 2768-mK) in the title block; geometric tolerances with their datums.
  • Surface roughness (Ra), edge breaks, heat treatment, coating; corrosivity category for maritime parts.
  • Annual quantity, batch size, first-order quantity and target date.
  • Documentation expectations: inspection report, EN 10204 3.1 (3.2 for critical parts), FAI, NDT reports (PT/UT), PMI (positive material identification) where required.

Step 2: Request and Compare Quotes

Send the RFQ to 2–3 Turkish suppliers and compare quotes line by line: unit price (quantity breaks), set-up, material certificate level (3.1/3.2), NDT, inspection report, packaging, Incoterm and lead time. In the Norwegian oil and gas supply chain, supplier registration systems such as Achilles JQS and HSE expectations come up frequently; registration of the Turkish supplier in these systems is not mandatory, but may be asked about. 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 delivers to your door; the Norwegian import declaration and MVA are yours). DDP to Norway is not practical because it may require the exporter to register for MVA in Norway. Details are in our Incoterms guide.

Payment

In Norway, 30 days net is common. For export sales, Turkish suppliers work with partial advance payment (30–50%) plus the balance before shipment on first orders, and 30-day open account in an established relationship. Prices are mostly in EUR; if NOK-based pricing is requested, an exchange-rate update rule should be written into the contract because of NOK volatility. SWIFT transfer is standard.

Contract and confidentiality

An English-language NDA and quality agreement are sufficient; in oil and gas projects it is common to attach customer specifications (company standards) to the contract. Governing law and venue for disputes should be specified.

Step 4: Samples and First Article Approval

For the first order, request 1–5 samples and a full inspection report against a ballooned drawing. For oil and gas and maritime parts, FAI + 3.1/3.2 certificate + NDT + PMI where required; for defence, FAI + traceability; for general machinery, a standard FAI is sufficient. Verify the report with your own measurements; series production starts after approval. Details are in our FAI guide and our CMM report article.

Step 5: Logistics, Customs and Import

  • Road: Istanbul to Oslo door to door in 7–9 working days (Germany–Denmark–Sweden route or Kiel/Frederikshavn–Oslo ferry); 1–2 more days to Stavanger and Bergen.
  • Sea: For heavy and bulky loads, Istanbul–Oslo/Bergen container 2–3 weeks.
  • Air freight: Istanbul–Oslo 1–2 days (direct flight); express courier 2–4 days for samples.
  • Customs duty: Norway is not in the EU Customs Union, so A.TR is not used. Norway applies no customs duty on the large majority of industrial products; in addition, under the Turkey–EFTA FTA, a EUR.1 or origin declaration can be issued for products of Turkish origin. For details, see our EUR.1 and A.TR guide.
  • MVA (VAT): VAT-registered Norwegian companies do not pay import VAT (25%) at the border; they declare it in the periodic VAT return (mva-melding) and deduct it in the same return. There is no cash outflow.
  • Declaration: The forwarder lodges the import declaration in the Tolletaten system under your company's organisation number; commercial invoice, packing list, proof of origin and transport document are sufficient.

Step 6: Series Deliveries and Continuous Improvement

Framework agreements and call-off orders are common; because of the transit time, planning 3–4 weeks of safety stock is useful. Each batch ships with an inspection report and material certificate in the package; for oil and gas parts, the documentation package (MRB: manufacturing record book) is compiled per project. Annual supplier audits can be carried out by video or a visit to Istanbul.

Common Mistakes

  • Sending an A.TR to Norway; the document is invalid there, a EUR.1/origin declaration is needed for origin.
  • Not stating the NORSOK MDS or NACE requirement in the RFQ; it directly affects material sourcing and price.
  • Planning transit time as for Central Europe; 7–9 days is realistic.
  • Raising the 3.2 certificate or PMI requirement only after sample approval.
  • Requesting NOK pricing without defining an exchange-rate update rule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is customs duty payable for Norway?

For the large majority of CNC-machined metal parts, no; Norway applies no tariff on industrial products, and the EFTA–Turkey FTA also exists. Only 25% MVA arises, and it is offset in the VAT return.

How much time should I plan for the first order?

Quote 1–2 days, samples 1–3 weeks, series 3–5 weeks after approval (longer for special materials), transport 7–9 days: the first series batch is typically in your hands in 8–12 weeks.

Can duplex and super duplex parts be machined in Turkey?

Yes; however, material lead time and certificate level (3.1/3.2, NORSOK MDS) affect price and schedule. State them explicitly in the RFQ.

Do I need to visit the supplier in Turkey?

Not mandatory; with a roughly 4-hour direct flight Oslo–Istanbul, an overnight audit is feasible.

Conclusion

Outsourcing CNC machining from Norway to Turkey is a predictable process: the right document package (including material and documentation requirements), a line-by-line quote, sample approval and a duty-free import under the EFTA agreement with MVA offset in the VAT return. Send your technical drawings and quantities via our quote form; you will receive a line-by-line quote in euros (with a NOK reference on request) within 24 hours. For the process steps, see our how we work page.