Container shipping from Turkey to the UK
We buy your goods from Turkish factories and Istanbul's markets, check them and ship them to the UK by sea to Felixstowe, London Gateway or Southampton, or by road via Europe. Here are the route, the time it takes, the papers the UK asks for, and its duties.
- By sea from Turkey11–16 days
- By road, by truck7–10 days
- Shared containerFrom one pallet
The route from Turkey to the UK
Containers for the UK leave from Aliağa, the Marmara ports or Mersin, with weekly direct services to Felixstowe. Trucks also go through Europe, by road or by ferry to Trieste, and then cross the Channel.
From Aliağa in İzmir, Gemlik, Ambarlı in Istanbul, İzmit and Mersin to Felixstowe, London Gateway or Southampton. A full container just for you, or space in a shared one.
About 11 to 15 days from Aliağa and the Marmara ports to Felixstowe (Turkon Line's 2026 schedule) and about 16 days from Mersin to London Gateway (schedule estimate). Southampton usually takes a transhipment, about 21 to 26 days (schedule estimates).
11–16 daysTrucks cross the Balkans and the EU, or take a ferry from Pendik to Trieste and go on by road, and then cross the Channel. Forwarders estimate 7 to 10 days door to door. Queues at Kapıkule, limits on transit permits and Channel traffic can add days, and the UK import declaration should be ready before the truck reaches the Channel.
7–10 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 the UK 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.
- Origin declaration on the invoiceFor the UK it's an origin declaration on the invoice, not an A.TR or EUR.1, and it lets goods that meet the agreement's origin rules pay the preferential duty.
What the UK asks of you
- GB EORI number and import declarationTo import into England, Scotland or Wales you need an EORI number starting with GB, and a customs declaration for each shipment with the right commodity code. You or your customs agent make it. Northern Ireland has separate rules.Official site
- Border controls on food and plantsUnder the Border Target Operating Model, all goods need a safety and security declaration. Food, plants and animal products also fall into risk categories: depending on the category and origin, they may need advance notification, a health certificate and checks at a border control post.Official site
- UKCA or CE marking and textile labelsRegulated goods such as toys and electrical goods need a UKCA or CE marking. As the importer, you must check it, keep the technical papers and put your name and address on the product or its packaging. Textiles need an English label showing the fibre content.Official site
Trade agreement and duties
The UK–Türkiye Free Trade Agreement applies today, and a wider agreement is still being negotiated (the sixth round ended on 2 October 2026). With an origin declaration, industrial goods that meet its rules pay 0% and most farm goods pay a reduced rate; other goods pay the UK Global Tariff, such as 12% on T-shirts and trousers, and many steel products pay 50% beyond their quota. Import VAT, usually 20%, comes on top, and if you're VAT-registered you can use postponed VAT accounting.
Before you order goods for the UK
- Clothes sewn in Turkey from imported fabric often don't qualify for 0%: the rules generally ask for the fabric to be knitted or woven there too. Ask where the fabric is made before you order, or budget for the 12% duty.
- Meeting product rules is your duty as the importer. If you put your own brand on regulated goods, the UK treats you as the manufacturer, so settle the safety papers before you order.
- Talks on a wider UK–Türkiye agreement are continuing, so duties and origin rules may change. Check your commodity code on the UK Trade Tariff before you order.
How we ship your order to the UK
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 the UK
And we send you the papers before the goods arrive, so your customs broker can start.
Questions about shipping goods to the UK
How long does shipping from Turkey to the UK take?
By sea: 11–16 days. By road: 7–10 days. By air: 3–7 days, for samples and urgent orders. Customs clearance in the UK 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 the UK ask for?
A GB EORI number and a customs declaration, the border controls on food, plants and animal products, and UKCA or CE marking and textile labels where they apply. We prepare the invoice, packing list and origin declaration.
Who clears the goods in the UK?
You or your customs broker in the UK. We prepare the invoice, packing list and origin declaration and send them before the goods arrive; the duties are paid in the UK.
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 the UK.
Get a quote for your shipment to the UK
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.
