Container shipping from Turkey to Kuwait
We buy your goods from Turkish factories and Istanbul's markets, check them and ship them to Kuwait by road via Iraq to the Abdali border, or by sea to Shuwaikh or Shuaiba. Here are the route, the time it takes, the papers Kuwait asks for, and its duties.
- By road, by truckabout 4 days
- By sea from TurkeyMostly halted since March 2026
- Shared containerFrom one pallet
The route from Turkey to Kuwait
Goods for Kuwait go by road through Iraq under TIR: in at Habur – Ibrahim Khalil, out of Iraq at Safwan and into Kuwait at Abdali, with clearance at the Sulaibiya inland port.
Since March 2026 the Strait of Hormuz has been mostly shut, and carriers stopped taking bookings for Kuwait's ports. Goods go by road through Iraq under TIR, and Kuwait has widened what it lets in at the Abdali border.
Under TIR through Iraq. Kuwait first allowed only food and animal feed through Abdali, then medical supplies, building materials and basic goods; since May 2026 it accepts more goods if approvals are in place before shipping.
about 4 daysFrom Mersin to Shuwaikh or Shuaiba. A full container just for you, or space in a shared one.
Normally 27 to 45 days with transhipment; carriers now go through Jeddah and Dammam instead.
Mostly halted since March 2026For 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 Kuwait 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.
- Certificate of originCertified by a Turkish chamber of commerce or exporters' association; Kuwait asks for an original and two copies, and the importer may ask for a Kuwaiti embassy stamp too.
What Kuwait asks of you
- KUCASRegulated products, such as electrical equipment, tyres, paints and oils, melamine kitchenware, cement, ceramics, pipes, rebar and household detergents, need a technical evaluation and an inspection report for every consignment from an approved body (TÜV Rheinland, Intertek, Bureau Veritas, SGS).Official site
- FoodFood is cleared by the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition on its Raqeb portal, with a health certificate and, for meat, a halal certificate for every batch.Official site
- Import licenceThe importer needs a yearly import licence from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and must be registered with the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce; the bills of lading name the licence holder.Official site
Trade agreement and duties
No trade agreement is in force; Kuwait is part of the GCC–Türkiye talks, still going on in October 2026. Kuwait applies the GCC tariff: 5% of the CIF value on most goods, with more than 400 items exempt, mainly basic foods and medicines.
Before you order goods for Kuwait
- Banned: pork, alcohol, gambling machines, narcotics, used medical equipment, cars over ten years old and goods of Israeli origin. Some goods need a Kuwaiti authority's permission before import.
- Cargo must arrive on pallets (a Kuwait Customs rule since August 2024, with a fine otherwise).
- Abdali was closed for a few days in July 2026 after a drone attack. Border conditions change, so we confirm the route and the time when you order.
How we ship your order to Kuwait
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 Kuwait
And we send you the papers before the goods arrive, so your customs broker can start.
Questions about shipping goods to Kuwait
How long does shipping from Turkey to Kuwait take?
By road: about 4 days. By sea: Mostly halted since March 2026. By air: 3–7 days, for samples and urgent orders. Customs clearance in Kuwait 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 Kuwait ask for?
KUCAS reports for regulated products, food clearance on the Raqeb portal with health and halal certificates, and the importer's yearly import licence. We prepare the invoice, packing list and certificate of origin, certified by a Turkish chamber.
Who clears the goods in Kuwait?
You or your customs broker in Kuwait. We prepare the invoice, packing list and certificate of origin and send them before the goods arrive; the duties are paid in Kuwait.
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 Kuwait.
Get a quote for your shipment to Kuwait
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.
