Container shipping from Turkey to the United States
We buy your goods from Turkish factories and Istanbul's markets, check them and ship them to the United States by sea to New York/New Jersey, Savannah or Houston. Here are the route, the time it takes, the papers the United States asks for, and its duties.
- By sea from Turkey15–26 days
- By air, for samples3–7 days
- Shared containerFrom one pallet
The route from Turkey to the United States
Containers for the United States leave from Aliağa, the Marmara ports or Mersin, with regular direct services to the East Coast. Houston takes a transhipment and much longer.
From Aliağa in İzmir, Ambarlı in Istanbul, İzmit, Gemlik and Mersin to New York/New Jersey, Savannah or Houston. A full container just for you, or space in a shared one.
About 15 days from Aliağa, 17 from Ambarlı and 21 from Mersin to New York, and about 26 from Mersin to Savannah (schedule estimates). Houston usually takes a transhipment, about 40 to 46 days (schedule estimates).
15–26 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 the United States 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 the United States it lowers no duty, because no trade agreement applies, but it backs up the country of origin you declare, and that decides which extra tariffs your goods pay.
What the United States asks of you
- Importer Security Filing (ISF 10+2)You or your customs broker must send the 10 ISF data items to US Customs (CBP) at least 24 hours before the container is loaded in Turkey. Late or wrong filings can bring penalties, inspections and delays.Official site
- Customs bond and HTS codeCommercial shipments need a customs bond, for one shipment or continuous for a year, and the correct HTS code, which sets your duty. A broker can file the entry for you, but you, as the importer, stay responsible for its accuracy and the duties.Official site
- CPSC and FDA rulesRegulated consumer goods need a certificate of compliance from the importer, and since 8 July 2026 it must be filed electronically at entry; children's products must be tested at a CPSC-accepted lab. Food needs FDA facility registration, prior notice of each shipment and a foreign supplier verification programme (FSVP).Official site
Trade agreement and duties
No trade agreement applies between the United States and Türkiye, so goods pay the normal duty for their HTS code. On top of that, most Turkish goods pay 12.5% under Section 301 (US Customs notice of 23 July 2026, in force since 24 July); goods under Section 232, such as steel, aluminium, copper and some wood furniture, pay that tariff instead, often 25% to 50%. These rates have changed repeatedly since 2025, a US court is reviewing the Section 301 duties and they can change again, while duty-free entry for small shipments stays suspended.
Before you order goods for the United States
- Ask your customs broker for the full rate on your HTS code before you pay for the goods, and again before loading. The rate that counts is the one on the day of entry, not the day you order.
- Every imported item needs a clear, permanent mark of origin in English, such as 'Made in Turkey' or 'Product of Turkey': US Customs rulings don't accept 'Made in Türkiye'. Clothes and home textiles also need a label with the fibres, the origin and the company name or RN number. These labels are your legal duty as the importer.
- Goods made wholly or partly in Xinjiang are presumed barred from the United States, and customs can hold them. For cotton goods, ask the factory where the cotton or fabric comes from, and keep the papers.
How we ship your order to the United States
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 United States
And we send you the papers before the goods arrive, so your customs broker can start.
Questions about shipping goods to the United States
How long does shipping from Turkey to the United States take?
By sea: 15–26 days. By air: 3–7 days, for samples and urgent orders. Customs clearance in the United States 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 United States ask for?
An Importer Security Filing at least 24 hours before loading, a customs bond and the correct HTS code, plus CPSC certificates or FDA steps where they apply. We prepare the invoice, packing list and certificate of origin.
Who clears the goods in the United States?
You or your customs broker in the United States. We prepare the invoice, packing list and certificate of origin and send them before the goods arrive; the duties are paid in the United States.
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 United States.
Get a quote for your shipment to the United States
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.
