For a Swiss buyer, sourcing CNC parts from Turkey offers the largest price gap in Europe: Swiss hourly rates are 30–50% above Germany's. At the same time Switzerland is the market with the highest quality expectations; the comparison must therefore be made not only on price but on which part suits which location. This article adds numbers to our Switzerland advantages and process articles. The figures are typical values reflecting 2025–2026 market conditions; 1 CHF ≈ €1.05 is assumed.
Line-by-Line Comparison
| Item | Switzerland | Turkey | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNC turning hourly rate (3-axis) | CHF 100–140 | CHF 27–38 | ≈ 70% lower |
| CNC milling hourly rate (3-axis) | CHF 110–150 | CHF 29–43 | ≈ 70% lower |
| 5-axis milling hourly rate | CHF 150–200 | CHF 43–62 | ≈ 70% lower |
| Swiss-type turning hourly rate (décolletage) | CHF 90–130 | CHF 24–36 | ≈ 72% lower |
| Programming / set-up (hour) | CHF 120–160 | CHF 29–43 | ≈ 74% lower |
| Raw material (steel, aluminium, stainless) | Market (+5–10% small-market premium) | Market | Slightly lower in Turkey |
| Industrial electricity (kWh) | CHF 0.15–0.25 | CHF 0.10–0.13 | ≈ 40% lower |
| Coating / heat treatment | Market (high) | 35–50% lower | Marked |
| Freight to Switzerland (share of part value) | 0.3–0.8% (domestic) | 2–4% (road 4–6 days) | Higher for Turkey |
| Customs duty | — | 0% (abolished for industrial goods since 2024) | None |
| Customs clearance (per shipment) | — | CHF 50–100 | Fixed, small |
| Import MWST (8.1%) | Domestic MWST | Paid at customs, deducted in the return (deferral via ZAZ account) | Neutral |
The hourly-rate gap is around 70%; with raw material and freight added, savings of 45–60% per part are typical; no other country comparison in Europe is this wide.
Example 1: Precision Turned-and-Milled Stainless Part (Instrument Component)
1.4404, Ø25×45 mm, live-tool lathe (4 flats, 6 holes, M4 threads, eccentric hole), Ra 0.8, ±0.01 on two diameters; passivation; inspection report; quantity 500.
| Switzerland | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material | CHF 1.70 | CHF 1.60 |
| Machining (6.5 min) | CHF 13.00 | CHF 3.90 |
| Set-up/programming (per piece) | CHF 0.80 | CHF 0.25 |
| Passivation | CHF 0.50 | CHF 0.25 |
| Quality/report | CHF 0.70 | CHF 0.40 |
| Overhead + margin | CHF 4.20 | CHF 1.60 |
| Ex-works price | CHF 20.90 | CHF 8.00 |
| Freight + customs clearance | CHF 0.10 | CHF 0.30 |
| Delivered cost | CHF 21.00 | CHF 8.30 |
Saving: ≈ 60%. A part with long machining time, precise but without the sub-micron requirements specific to Switzerland; Turkey's strongest category. For where ±0.01 mm tolerance is really necessary, see our tolerance article.
Example 2: Milled Aluminium Housing
EN AW-6082, 160×100×35 mm, 3-axis milling in 2 set-ups, pocket, 14 holes, 6 threads, natural anodising; ISO 2768-m; quantity 200.
| Switzerland | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material | CHF 6.50 | CHF 6.20 |
| Machine + labour (24 min) | CHF 52.00 | CHF 14.40 |
| Set-up/programming (per piece) | CHF 2.80 | CHF 0.80 |
| Anodising | CHF 3.80 | CHF 1.90 |
| Quality/report | CHF 1.20 | CHF 0.70 |
| Overhead + margin | CHF 16.50 | CHF 6.00 |
| Ex-works price | CHF 82.80 | CHF 30.00 |
| Freight + customs clearance | CHF 0.40 | CHF 1.20 |
| Delivered cost | CHF 83.20 | CHF 31.20 |
Saving: ≈ 62%. The gap is highest on labour-intensive milled parts.
Parts That Sensibly Stay in Switzerland
- Sub-micron tolerances and watchmaking-scale micro parts (Ø < 2 mm, ±0.002): Switzerland's décolletage and micro-manufacturing infrastructure is unique.
- Flight-critical EN 9100 or implant-class ISO 13485 parts (dedicated supplier pool).
- Parts requiring daily JIT, line-side delivery.
- Large simple parts where the raw material share exceeds 60% (saving falls to 10–15%).
- Very low-quantity (1–3) urgent prototypes (time-critical, set-up dominant).
By contrast, instrument, automation, medical-device mechanics, sensor and fitting parts with ±0.01–0.05 mm tolerances, and medium- to high-volume turned-and-milled parts are produced in Turkey with 45–60% savings.
The Swissness Rule and the Sourcing Decision
If you use "Swiss made" on your product, for industrial products at least 60% of the manufacturing cost must be incurred in Switzerland and the essential manufacturing step must take place in Switzerland. Moving part sourcing abroad affects this ratio; but for most device manufacturers, assembly, testing, software and R&D costs cover the 60% comfortably. Do the calculation: as long as the share of parts sourced abroad in total manufacturing cost remains below 40%, the rule is preserved. Other Switzerland-specific points: since 2024 the customs duty on industrial goods is zero (regardless of origin), MWST at 8.1% is the lowest in Europe, and EUR.1/origin declarations only matter for cumulation when re-exporting the product to the EU.
Total Cost of Ownership
- Inventory and capital: 4–6 days by road, 1–2 weeks of additional safety stock; 0.2–0.3% of part value in Switzerland's low-interest environment.
- Customs management: CHF 50–100 per shipment; MWST deferral via ZAZ account.
- Currency: Turkish suppliers quote in EUR; the CHF/EUR rate has historically moved in favour of the CHF, an advantage for the buyer; a currency band can be written into the contract.
- Quality management: Incoming inspection to Swiss standards and an annual audit (Zurich–Istanbul 3 hours); with the right system, quality is equivalent.
- Capacity: 10–16 weeks of waiting is common in Swiss shops; 3–6 weeks in Turkey.
Result: on labour-intensive parts the total cost of ownership saving is 45–60%; the method is described in our TCO article.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much cheaper are CNC parts from Turkey for Switzerland?
Typically 45–60% on labour-intensive parts including freight and customs clearance; 15–25% on material-heavy simple parts.
Can Swiss precision expectations be met in Turkey?
±0.01 mm and Ra 0.4 are standard in export-oriented Turkish shops; sub-micron and micro parts are Switzerland's special domain. Evaluate part by part.
How do customs and MWST work?
Customs duty on industrial goods has been zero since 2024; 8.1% MWST is paid at customs and deducted in the return, or deferred via a ZAZ account.
Can I get numbers for my own part?
Yes. Send your technical drawing with the information in our RFQ guide; you will receive a comparable, CHF-referenced quote within 24 hours.
Conclusion
The CNC part cost gap between Switzerland and Turkey is the widest in Europe: 70% on hourly rates, 45–60% per part. Zero customs duty, low MWST and 4–6 day logistics carry this gap to the buyer; the right approach is to keep sub-micron and specially certified parts in Switzerland and to give the broad medium-precision family to Turkey. To see the real numbers for your own parts, send us your technical drawings.
