Container shipping from Turkey to Germany
We buy your goods from Turkish factories and Istanbul's markets, check them and ship them to Germany by road via Kapıkule and the Balkans, or the Trieste ferry, or by sea to Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven or Hamburg. Here are the route, the time it takes, the papers Germany asks for, and its duties.
- By road, by truckTime confirmed with your quote
- By sea from Turkey13–19 days
- Shared containerFrom one pallet
The route from Turkey to Germany
Most trucks from Turkey leave through Kapıkule and the Balkans; others take a ferry to Trieste and go on by road or rail. Containers also sail to Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven and Hamburg in about two to three weeks.
In October 2026 truck drivers at Kapıkule reported waits of up to four or five days at times. Some traffic moved to Hamzabeyli, and the Trieste ferry avoids these borders. We confirm the best route when you order.
Trucks cross at Kapıkule or Hamzabeyli and drive through Bulgaria and the Balkans. The DFDS ferry from Pendik to Trieste takes about 64 hours, six times a week, and trailers go on by road or rail. One forwarder estimates Istanbul to Munich at 3 to 7 days by road and 4 to 6 via Trieste, before any long border wait.
Time confirmed with your quoteFrom Ambarlı in Istanbul, Gemlik, İzmit and Aliağa in İzmir to Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven or Hamburg. A full container just for you, or space in a shared one.
Turkon's 2026 table gives 14 to 15 days from Aliağa and 18 to 19 from İzmit to Wilhelmshaven or Bremerhaven. Schedule estimates to Hamburg are 13 to 17 days. These lines sail west through the Mediterranean and don't use the Red Sea.
13–19 daysFor samples and urgent, light orders.
3–7 daysTimes are approximate, port to port or border to border, and don't include customs clearance.
Which container fits your goods?
Enter one carton's size and weight and how many cartons you have. We show the volume, the weight and how many cartons each way of shipping takes. The price comes in your quote.
One carton
120 cartons · 11.5 m³ · 2,160 kg
By air you'd be charged for 2,160 kg: the larger of the real weight and the volume weight (volume ÷ 6000).
Usually the best fit: a shared container. You pay only for 11.5 m³.
| Way to ship | Inside size | Max load | Your cartons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared container | You pay for the space you use | — | You pay for 11.5 m³ |
| 20 ft container | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m · 33.2 m³ | 25 t | All 120 fit35% full |
| 40 ft container | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m · 67.7 m³ | 27.6 t | All 120 fit17% full |
| 40 ft high cube | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.70 m · 76.4 m³ | 28.5 t | All 120 fit15% full |
| 13.6 m truck | 13.6 × 2.45 × 2.70 m · about 90 m³ | about 24 t | All 120 fit13% full |
Sizes are typical and vary a little from one container or trailer to another, and some countries allow less weight on their roads. We work out the exact loading with your quote.
Papers: what we prepare and what Germany asks for
We prepare in Turkey
- Commercial invoiceEvery model, its quantity and price.
- Packing listWhat is in each carton, its weight and size, from the inspection.
- A.TR or EUR.1For Germany it's the A.TR, validated by Turkish customs, which lets industrial goods enter duty-free; farm goods, coal and steel use a EUR.1 or invoice declaration instead.
What Germany asks of you
- EORI, customs declaration and import VATCustoms declarations in Germany must show EORI numbers, including the consignee's. Declaring is done by a company registered in the EU, so a buyer outside the EU works through a representative or broker. Import VAT of 19% or 7% is paid to customs, and the EORI is how you prove that payment to your tax office.Official site
- LUCID packaging registerThe first company to supply packaged goods in Germany, usually the importer, must register in LUCID and report its packaging. Packaging that reaches households also needs a recycling-system contract. New EU and German packaging rules have applied since 12 August 2026, and a seller abroad shipping directly to end users in Germany needs an authorised representative.Official site
- Product safety and labelsConsumer goods need a responsible person in the EU, often the importer, with contact details given. Toys, electrical goods and similar products also need CE marking, chemicals must stay within REACH limits, and textile labels must be in German. Meeting these rules is the importer's duty.Official site
Trade agreement and duties
The EU–Türkiye Customs Union means no customs duty with an A.TR on industrial goods and on the industrial part of processed farm goods. Farm goods, coal and steel fall outside it and get lower rates only with a EUR.1 or invoice declaration. Anti-dumping duties still apply, for example 4.8% to 20.9% on ceramic tiles; steel above its EU quota has paid 50% since July 2026, and the EU's carbon charge (CBAM) can apply to steel and aluminium goods.
Before you order goods for Germany
- Wood and certain wood products come under the EU deforestation rule from 30 December 2026: the company first placing them on the EU market must show they are deforestation-free. Check whether your wooden goods are covered before you order.
- Sea and road shipments need an advance safety declaration (ICS2) before arrival, and customs can reject incomplete data or hold the cargo. Send us exact goods names and the importer's details early, so the invoice and packing list match.
- Our inspection counts pieces, checks for faults and measures cartons. It doesn't confirm legal compliance, so check CE, REACH, labels and packaging duties for your product with your broker or adviser before ordering. Selling under your own brand can make you the manufacturer in law.
How we ship your order to Germany
Send your request
The goods and the quantity, through the form below or on WhatsApp.
We send offers and samples
Supplier prices and photos of the goods, and samples if you ask.
We check and combine
We count the pieces, look for faults, measure and weigh the cartons, and send you a report with photos and video.
See an example reportWe ship it to Germany
And we send you the papers before the goods arrive, so your customs broker can start.
Questions about shipping goods to Germany
How long does shipping from Turkey to Germany take?
By road: a time we confirm with your quote. By sea: 13–19 days. By air: 3–7 days, for samples and urgent orders. Customs clearance in Germany comes on top.
Can I ship in a shared container?
Yes. A shared container starts from one pallet, and you pay for the space your goods take. Try the container tool on this page to see your goods' volume.
What papers does Germany ask for?
An EORI number and customs declaration, LUCID registration for packaged goods, and product-safety duties with a responsible person in the EU. We prepare the invoice, packing list and A.TR or EUR.1.
Who clears the goods in Germany?
You or your customs broker in Germany. We prepare the invoice, packing list and A.TR or EUR.1 and send them before the goods arrive; the duties are paid in Germany.
Can you combine goods from several suppliers into one shipment?
Yes. We receive the goods from every supplier at our Istanbul warehouse, check them and put them together in one shipment to Germany.
Get a quote for your shipment to Germany
The quote is free, with no obligation. It comes itemised: the price of the goods, our service fee and the shipping, each on its own line.
