Temu, Shein va AliExpress savdodan chiqib ketdi — 2026-yilda jiddiy B2B importchilari Turkiyaga qanday qilib yetkazib berishadi
Kirish
The import environment of Turkey changed substantially in early 2026. One of the world’s fastest-growing battlegrounds for Chinese e-commerce titans is now virtually closed to the Temu and Shein model of low-value, parcel-by-parcel cross-border selling. On January 7, 2026, the Ministry of Trade of Turkey published a regulation in the Official Gazette, which abolishes the streamlined customs declaration system, which allowed cheap international parcels to enter the country with minimal documentation and reduced duties. The alteration fully took effect on February 6, 2026 – and the implications were immediate. Shein completely exited sales in Turkey, while Temu shut down its international shipping and switched to a marketplace model with local sellers solely.
For the millions of Turkish consumers who depended on these sites, the move felt abrupt. But for genuine importers, wholesalers and business customers in the B2B space, purchasing goods from China, it opens a different kind of door. Analysts estimate that around USD 1.5 billion of yearly cross-border consumer spend is now being diverted from parcel-based platforms — and that demand needs to go somewhere. It will go to established importers, who know how to get goods through the legal commercial channels: ocean freight containers, accurate customs declarations, certified products, and the necessary freight partners.
This article is for such imports. If you’re a business executive who wants to know precisely how to source and ship goods into Turkey in 2026 — what the restrictions are, which freight options make sense, what documentation you’ll need and who can assist you do it reliably — this book covers all you need to know.
Why Temu, Shein, and AliExpress Are Effectively Out of Turkey
Turkey’s crackdown didn’t come suddenly. This was the outcome of a policy effort spanning several years, motivated by three converging forces: the need to safeguard domestic manufacturers, concerns around consumer safety, and the need to bring import taxation into line with regular commercial standards.
Turkey’s regulatory move began in August 2024, when it decreased the duty-free quota for individual purchases abroad from €150 to €30 and at the same time doubled the non-EU customs tax rate to 60 percent. The Ministry of Trade closed the loophole even further in December 2024 by incorporating delivery costs in the computation of the taxable value and introducing a flat EUR 3 handling fee each order. Then, even a simple clothing worth EUR 25 on a Chinese marketplace could bring about a customs duty higher than its purchase price.
“The safety angle was equally critical. Inspections carried out by the Turkish Ministry of Trade discovered that 148 of the 182 products sampled from these platforms – a shocking 81 percent – did not conform to Turkish product safety regulations. Toxic chemicals such as phthalates, lead, cadmium and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were found in the laboratory testing at levels well beyond the permissible limits. Domestic industry organisations had been pushing for action for some time. The Turkish Footwear Industry Association alone claimed that Temu shipped about 8 million pairs of shoes to Turkey each year, about half of which contained carcinogenic chemicals.
The final straw was the January 2026 decree. It removed the legal mechanism which permitted non-commercial parcels sent by post or express courier to pass through customs on simplified processes. All overseas e-commerce goods now have to be imported through conventional commercial import procedures. That criterion is existential for a business strategy based on the seamless transit of millions of little parcels. “This is the normal way to do business for importers who already use commercial channels.
| sana | Normativ o'zgarishlar | Impact on Cross-Border E-Commerce |
| Avgust 2024 | Duty-free threshold cut from EUR 150 to EUR 30; non-EU duty rate doubled to 60% | Sharply raised cost of individual parcels from China |
| dekabr 2024 | Shipping fees included in taxable CIF value; EUR 3 fixed fee per order added | Effective duty-free threshold dropped to approximately EUR 27 |
| Yanvar 7, 2026 | Official Gazette decree abolishes simplified customs declarations for e-commerce | All overseas e-commerce goods subject to full customs procedures |
| Fevral 6, 2026 | Full enforcement begins; Shein halts Turkey sales; Temu closes international deliveries | USD 1.5 billion market opens for formal commercial importers |
| Davom etayotgan 2026 | Product safety certification mandatory; uncertified goods blocked at border | 81% of sampled platform products had previously failed Turkish safety standards |
The Market Opportunity That Just Opened Up
The fact that Temu and Shein are leaving Turkey’s cross-border e-commerce business does not indicate that Turkey’s need for imports decreases. This implies demand now has to be serviced differently – through formal importers, wholesalers and firms that buy in volume and sell through local channels, whether that be domestic e-commerce platforms such as Trendyol and Hepsiburada, physical retail or B2B distribution networks.
As economist and former central banker Ugur Gurses put it, the USD 1.5 billion that Turkish consumers used to spend yearly through small foreign deliveries would now be taken up by established importer enterprises and local marketplaces. Temu’s transaction volume in Turkey had already hit 60 billion Turkish Liras in 2025, up 40 percent year-on-year before the regulatory crackdown halted that expansion. That’s a big commercial vacuum and domestic importers with the capacity to fill the gap, are already trying to grab it.
The possibility is especially great in a number of product categories where Chinese platforms had achieved extensive penetration: clothes and footwear, consumer electronics accessories, home goods and decorations, toys and children’s products, and basic hardware and tools. Now importers who can consistently source these categories, ship them in volume through compliant channels and certify their products to Turkish requirements face drastically decreased price competition from the platforms that were previously undercutting them on landed cost.
The operative phrase is ‘compliant’. The new climate in Turkey rewards importers who see customs not as a hurdle to be minimised but as a procedure that can be properly managed. That includes understanding the freight modes available, knowing exactly what documentation is required and working with logistics partners who have real expertise on the China-Turkey trade channel.
How Serious B2B Importers Actually Move Goods into Turkey
Ocean Freight: The Workhorse of Commercial Imports
Most B2B importers sending goods from China to Turkey choose ocean freight as their main form of transport. The China-Turkey ocean freight line starts at the major Chinese ports of Shanghai, Ningbo and Qingdao and arrives at Turkey’s Ambarli port near Istanbul or the Port of Mersin on the southern coast. In normal operating conditions, transit times are between 25 and 30 days, however seasonal congestion and port delays can make this longer.
Ocean Freight There are 2 basic types of ocean freight. The first is FCL ( Full Container Load ). Where one shipper books an entire container for their goods. Containers are 20ft or 40ft. The second is LCL ( Less than Container Load ). Where a container is shared. Charged by the cubic metre or Metric Tonne. Selecting between these 2 ways is one of the most important decisions a B2B importer can make. It affects freight cost, transit duration, cargo handling risk and customs clearance complexity. The table below summarises the differences.
| Mezonlar | FCL (to'liq konteyner yuki) | LCL (konteyner yukidan kamroq) |
| Eng yaxshi uchun | High-volume importers with >15 CBM per shipment | Smaller shipments below 13-15 CBM |
| Xarajatlar tarkibi | Flat rate per container; lower cost per unit at scale | Per CBM/ton; cost-effective for smaller volumes |
| Transit Time (China-Turkey) | Taxminan 25-30 kun | Approx. 28-35 days (includes CFS dwell time) |
| Yuklarni tashish xavfi | Lower — sealed from origin to destination port | Higher — consolidated and deconsolidated at freight stations |
| Bojxona rasmiylashtiruvi | Simpler — single consignee, one clean manifest | More complex — multiple consignees per container |
| Ideal foydalanish holati | Seasonal restocking, wholesale orders, regular inventory | Test orders, new supplier evaluation, sample shipments |
When FCL Makes More Sense
FCL will nearly always provide a reduced landing cost per unit where shipments consistently exceed 15 cubic metres in volume. In addition to the rate savings, FCL exports have a unique operational advantage in Turkey’s new customs environment. The container is sealed from the origin plant to the destination port, which means your goods are handled only twice—during loading in China and at delivery in Turkey. This eliminates the danger of damage, contamination or errors in documentation that can complicate customs declarations. A clean fully documented FCL shipment with one consignee is more easier to pass under Turkey’s tighter 2026 rules than a shared LCL consolidation. FCL also allows importers to construct seasonal inventories or operate on defined replenishment cycles to have more predictable shipping costs and negotiate better rates with goods forwarders on committed volume.
When LCL Is the Right Call
LCL is still the best option for test orders, new supplier assessments or shipments of less than approximately 13 cubic meters. If a new product category is entering the Turkish market or certifying a new supplier, it’s a needless financial risk to commit to a whole container before validating demand. LCL permits more frequent shipment of smaller amounts, hence enhancing inventory turnover and minimising the capital tied up in products in transit. It’s a trade-off – slightly higher per-CBM cost and extra cargo handling – that usually pays off at lower quantities and the top freight forwarders manage to consolidate LCL to minimise documentation complexity at destination.
Navigating Turkey’s Customs Clearance in 2026
Even before the rule changes in 2026, Turkey’s customs system was already procedure-heavy. No more simplified declarations for e-commerce parcels. “All commercial shipments will be subject to full standard import procedures. The Ministry of Trade’s Single Window System (TPS) is a digital platform that is progressively supporting Turkey’s customs processes by coordinating the submission of documentation across numerous government entities. Serious importers can no longer afford to be unfamiliar with TPS or to cooperate with a broker and forwarder who are.
Documentation Accuracy is the most common source of customs detention and delays on this trade path. Missing, inconsistent or misclassified paperwork can cause cargo to wait at the port for days or weeks, incurring demurrage and storage expenses that quickly eat away at your margins. The following table summarises the basic paperwork necessary for a B2B import shipment into Turkey.
| Hujjat | Maqsad | Key Requirement for Turkey |
| Tijorat hisob varag'i | Establishes declared value and transaction parties | Must include HS codes, Incoterms, buyer/seller VAT numbers |
| O'rama bo'yicha hisob-kitob hujjati; Yuk-mol hujjati | Details physical contents of the shipment | Accurate CBM, gross and net weight per SKU |
| Konosament (B/L) | Title document and receipt of goods for ocean shipment | Consignee name must match registered importer of record |
| Kelib chiqish sertifikati | Ishlab chiqarilgan mamlakatni tasdiqlaydi | Tegishli hollarda imtiyozli bojxona rejimi talab qilinadi |
| Product Safety Certs | Proves compliance with Turkish product standards | Mandatory since Jan 2026; must be obtained before shipment |
| Import litsenziyasi/ruxsatnomalari | Required for regulated product categories | Textiles, chemicals, electronics, and toys may need special permits |
| VGM Form (FCL only) | Verified Gross Mass declaration for the container | Must be submitted before the carrier documentation cutoff |
Product compliance now has more than just documentation on its agenda; it is now the main focus of Turkey’s enforcement attitude. All imported goods for resale, including those sold through domestic e-commerce platforms, must have necessary Turkish safety certificates and conform with the Regulation on Market Surveillance and Inspection of Products Placed on the Market using Remote Communication Tools as of January 2026. For regulated categories such as textiles, electronics, children’s products and footwear, this means getting certificates before the goods leave China, not when they arrive at the port.
Duty rates for B2B commercial imports from China are 60 percent for non-EU origin items, calculated on the CIF (Cost Insurance Freight) value. Proper HS code classification, Incoterms selection and use of bonded warehouse facilities allows for structured duty optimisation, meaning that commercial importers using formal FCL or LCL channels can often manage their effective landed costs more efficiently than the old parcel-based model could. This is the exact type of expertise that an experienced goods forwarder provides to a customer relationship.
One operational element that new importers sometimes forget is that Turkey’s customs officials may need a Broker Self-Clearance Option (BSO), which means that clearance must be conducted by a licensed Turkish customs broker who is specifically chosen by the importer. If you are beginning a new import operation, it is vital that you find and onboard your Turkish customs broker before your first consignment arrives. Disputes about broker choice at the port of arrival can lead to expensive storage and demurrage charges that could have been completely avoided.
Rail and Air Freight: Supplementary Options Worth Knowing
Ocean freight accounts for the lion’s share of China-Turkey cargo traffic, but two other modes are relevant for importers with specific requirements.
Temir yo'lda yuk tashish services along the lines of the Belt and Road network – especially those linking Chinese manufacturing hubs to Istanbul through Central Asia – have become a competitive alternative to both ocean and air freight. Transit timeframes are normally between 18 to 25 days, a much faster timeline than ocean freight, and charges are usually between in the middle of the ocean and air cost structure. Rail deserves considerable consideration for importers buying from interior Chinese manufacturing clusters in towns like Chengdu, Zhengzhou or Xi’an who seek a faster alternative to ocean without paying air costs.
Air freight is a costly last resort for B2B importers, but it is essential for urgent replenishments, high-value goods with low volume-to-value ratios or product samples that need to be evaluated quickly. The transit time from main airports in China to airports in Istanbul is 2-5 days. The documentation requirements for customs clearance in air freight at Istanbul airports are comparable to those for arrivals at seaports however the processing times are typically faster if the documentation is complete.
Why Your Freight Partner Matters More Than Ever in 2026
In the prior environment, platforms could send millions of little parcels through streamlined customs procedures and freight logistics was mostly automated and commoditised. The quality of your freight partner is a real business variable, with every commercial cargo needing to go through full customs procedures, product certification requirements and a still-developing regulatory environment.
The appropriate goods forwarder does a lot more than just book container space. We will handle your documentation chain from start to finish and liaise with your Turkish customs broker and advise you on HS code classification. We will arrange first mile pickups from your Chinese suppliers in all manufacturing regions and ensure all required certificates and declarations are in place before your goods arrive at the port in Turkey. When unforeseen problems occur – and they do occasionally happen with international shipping – a partner with extensive contacts at both the Chinese origin and Turkish destination ports can be the difference between a short delay and a multi-week stand-off with customs.
This is the operating environment in which Topway Shipping has established its name. Topway Shipping, with its headquarters in Shenzhen China, was founded in 2010 and has been a professional provider of cross-border logistics solutions for more than 15 years. The founding team has more than 15 years of hands-on experience in international logistics and customs clearance, with a particular strength in China-origin trade routes. Topway’s services cover the whole logistical chain, from first-mile trucking from factories and supplier warehouses across China, to offshore omborxona, customs clearance coordination and last-mile delivery. Topway provides FCL and LCL ocean freight services from China to major ports around the world for B2B importers shipping to Turkey and other global destinations, giving businesses the flexibility to match the right freight mode to their shipment volume and commercial cadence.
Importers who source from the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta and other major Chinese manufacturing hubs gain a structural advantage when working with a Shenzhen-based freight partner such as Topway: you are closer to your suppliers which means faster first-mile coordination, earlier identification of documentation gaps and tighter control over cargo readiness before vessel departure cutoffs. In the compliance-heavy import environment Turkey has become in 2026, that upstream visibility isn’t a luxury – it’s competitive advantage.
Xulosa
Turkey’s decision to scrap streamlined customs processing for abroad e-commerce is not just a setback, but a structural reset of the country’s import sector, with clear winners and losers. The platforms that built their business model around frictionless, low-cost delivery of parcels to consumers have pulled back. The demand left behind by those platforms will be scooped up by the importers operating through established business channels with adequate documentation, compliance merchandise, and professional freight partners.
The playbook for B2B importers and wholesalers targeting Turkey in 2026 is clear: ship by ocean at the scale and mode that matches your volume, invest in product safety certification before goods leave China, have your documentation chain in perfect shape, and pick a freight partner with real China-Turkey lane expertise. The $1.5 billion market Temu and Shein are quitting won’t stay empty for long. The importers who operate professionally, with speed and the necessary logistical infrastructure will catch it.
tez so'raladigan savollar
Q: Can I still import goods from China into Turkey in 2026?
A: Yes, it is. Turkey has imposed no prohibition on imports from China or any other nation of origin. What has changed is that all business shipments now have to go through normal complete customs procedures, with appropriate documentation and product certifications. B2B importers shipping by ocean freight with the right documents are still in business as usual.
Q: What customs duty rate applies to goods imported from China into Turkey?
A: The normal customs duty rate for products coming from outside the EU (including China) is 60 percent of the CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) value. Some product categories are also subject to an extra levy under Turkey’s Special Consumption Tax . The classification of HS codes and the selection of Incoterms can alter the structure of the overall duty requirements.
Q: What documents are required to clear customs in Turkey for a B2B commercial shipment?
A: The essential documents are: commercial invoice (including HS codes and Incoterms), packing list, bill of lading, and certificate of origin. Regulated goods categories require Turkish safety certifications. FCL shipments require a VGM form prior to the carrier’s documentation cut-off time. Partnering with a knowledgeable goods forwarder means you can relax knowing that the necessary paperwork will be handled before the shipment departs China.
Q: How long does ocean freight from China to Turkey take?
A: Standard maritime freight transit times from big Chinese ports to Ambarli or Mersin for direct or transshipment services are around 25 to 30 days. LCL shipments may experience an additional 3 to 7 days with consolidation and deconsolidation at container goods depots.
Q: When should I use FCL versus LCL for China-Turkey shipments?
A: FCL is often more economical for shipments exceeding 15 CBM, with easier customs procedure and less danger of cargo damage. For smaller test orders or infrequent shipments below 13 CBM, LCL is more practical. Turkey’s increased 2026 customs inspection procedures for the normal commercial volume shippers are offering lower per-unit charges and greater cargo security with FCL.
Q: How can Topway Shipping help with my Turkey imports?
A: We are Topway Shipping, a Shenzhen-based company established in 2010. We offer a full range of logistics services, including: first-mile pick-up from Chinese companies, flexible FCL and LCL ocean freight to major ports around the world, customs clearing assistance, overseas warehousing and last-mile delivery. Having over 15 years of experience in China-origin trade lanes, Topway is ideally positioned to support importers in navigating the evolving customs and compliance landscape in Turkey in 2026.
