Container shipping from Turkey to Tunisia
We buy your goods from Turkish factories and Istanbul's markets, check them and ship them to Tunisia by sea to Radès, Bizerte or Sousse. Here are the route, the time it takes, the papers Tunisia asks for, and its duties.
- By sea from Turkey3–8 days
- By air, for samples3–7 days
- Shared containerFrom one pallet
The route from Turkey to Tunisia
Almost all of Tunisia's trade goes by sea, and ships from Istanbul, Gemlik and Aliağa reach Radès, Bizerte and Sousse. There is no regular truck route from Turkey.
From Ambarlı in Istanbul, Gemlik and Aliağa in İzmir to Radès, Bizerte or Sousse. A full container just for you, or space in a shared one.
Direct sailings from Aliağa or Ambarlı reach Tunis or Bizerte in about 3 to 4 days, and Admiral's line from Ambarlı, Gemlik or İzmir reaches Radès in 7 to 8. When Radès is congested, ships are sent to Sousse, Bizerte or Sfax.
3–8 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 | — |
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 Tunisia 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 originFor Tunisia it's the EUR.1, which lets goods of Turkish origin use the agreement's rates. Without it they pay the normal duty.
What Tunisia asks of you
- Foreign trade title at a bankImports go through an approved Tunisian bank on a pro forma invoice, and the importer domiciles the foreign trade title there. Goods outside the free regime also need a Trade Ministry permit. Since March 2026, for goods on the central bank's non-priority list, the bank also needs a cash deposit covering their full value.Official site
- Prior control of the invoiceFor a list of consumer goods, including some textiles, cosmetics and appliances, the goods must be bought directly from the factory and a ministry must stamp the invoice. The file includes the maker's invoice, an official paper on the factory's legal status, proof of its quality system, the label design, a free-sale certificate and test reports.
- Technical control on arrivalMany consumer goods, such as shoes, cosmetics, school supplies, stainless steel and porcelain kitchenware, lamps, appliances and toys, are checked by the Trade Ministry before they can enter. Inspectors review the file or take samples at customs, sometimes at the importer's warehouse, and the goods wait for the decision.
Trade agreement and duties
The Türkiye–Tunisia free trade agreement still applies: with an EUR.1, most Turkish industrial goods enter duty-free, though woven carpets pay 50%. But since January 2024 Tunisia has charged duties on 277 groups of Turkish goods, announced at 27% to 37.5% (Türkiye's trade ministry lists up to 25% on clothes and home textiles), and these are due to fall in equal steps during 2027 and 2028. Imports also pay 1% FODEC and 19% VAT, so have your broker check the total for your 11-digit code in Tunisia's SINDA system.
Before you order goods for Tunisia
- The central bank's list is wide: clothes, home textiles, carpets, shoes, handbags, cosmetics, kitchenware, appliances, bedding and toys are all on it. Arrange the full cash deposit with your bank before you order. Your bank also can't pay in foreign currency until it has documents showing the goods have shipped.
- Under prior control, market goods don't qualify: the invoice must come from the factory that makes them. If your goods are on that list, tell us before you order so we can buy from the factory rather than the market.
- Imported goods need Arabic on the label, with the importer's and exporter's details, the composition and any expiry dates, and the origin must be marked. Second-hand clothes and counterfeits are banned.
How we ship your order to Tunisia
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 Tunisia
And we send you the papers before the goods arrive, so your customs broker can start.
Questions about shipping goods to Tunisia
How long does shipping from Turkey to Tunisia take?
By sea: 3–8 days. By air: 3–7 days, for samples and urgent orders. Customs clearance in Tunisia 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 Tunisia ask for?
A foreign trade title domiciled with a Tunisian bank, with a full cash deposit for goods on the central bank's list, a stamped factory invoice for goods under prior control, technical control on arrival, and an EUR.1 for the agreement's rates. We prepare the invoice, packing list and EUR.1.
Who clears the goods in Tunisia?
You or your customs broker in Tunisia. We prepare the invoice, packing list and certificate of origin and send them before the goods arrive; the duties are paid in Tunisia.
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 Tunisia.
Get a quote for your shipment to Tunisia
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.
