Sourcing from Turkey to US: A Guide to Finding the Best Suppliers

Turkey (Türkiye) presents a compelling alternative to the Asian market when it comes to product sourcing. Straddling Europe and Asia, the country’s strategic position and well-developed industrial clusters makes it a solid option for your business’s outsourcing needs.

In this blog post, you’ll learn:

• The top industries and products to source from Turkey,
• How to find manufacturers to partner with,
• Potential challenges you might encounter when sourcing products from Turkey as a US business.

What Are the Key Advantages of Sourcing From Turkey

There are many advantages of sourcing from Turkey to the US, from its strategic location to its manufacturing reputation.

• Value for money

Turkey offers an interesting proposition for US-based businesses looking to source products from overseas. While it can’t directly compete with Asian countries like China and Vietnam on price, the cost of sourcing from Turkey is still considerably lower than the average for Western European countries.

Plus, with a strong base of technical skills and know-how among the workforce, you could secure a deal that provides a lot of value for your investment.

• Known for manufacturing

Turkey also has a longstanding reputation as a hub of manufacturing, known for producing goods ranging from textiles and furniture to automotive parts.

Many Turkish factories have the benefit of leaning on age-old artisanal techniques and craftsmanship, while adding in modern automation processes to deliver a higher quality product. Many of these factories are also certified with the ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 13485 and others which speaks to the quality and reliability of their output.

• Strategic base

Turkey has a unique location compared to many sourcing countries, as it sits between Asia and Europe. As such, the country has easy, fast access to both the European and Middle Eastern markets.

There are various ports scattered throughout the country, such as major port Istanbul Ambarli, and Mersin, that are connected with the Mediterranean and Black Sea, but also Central Asia via rail networks.

Typically, sea shipments from Istanbul to the U.S. take less time on average than those coming from East Asia.

• Modern infrastructure

With more than 30 free zones and 5 major industrial parks, there are lots of manufacturing facilities throughout the country to handle various types of products, many of which have customs-duty exemptions.

Many of those facilities offer turnkey solutions for your product sourcing needs, so you can likely get everything you need from a single place. Since Istanbul Airport is the largest in Europe, you can rely on air shipments if that’s an option you’re considering for your business product sourcing needs.

What Are the Top Industries and Products to Source from Turkey?

There are various industries and products Turkey is known for sourcing. From artisanal craftsmanship to modern facilities and factories, the country has built a reputation for producing high-quality goods.

Textiles and Apparel

As one of the top five textile exporters in the world, Turkey is an excellent option for sourcing cotton and denim. With full vertical integration, handling textiles from start to finish in different industrial hubs, you’ll find fabric spinning in Bursa and product finishing in Izmir.

Lead times often sit within the range of 4-6 weeks, and adhere to OEKO-TEX and GOTS standards.

Turkey is also known for its home linens and technical knits, and supplies many household name brands with these types of textiles such as Zara and H&M.

Automotive Parts and Machinery

Turkey has several industrial clusters, such as those in Ankara and Kocaeli, which supply a range of automotive parts and machinery following IATF 16949 protocols.

For example, you can source engine components and transmissions, but you can also find injection-molded plastics and bearings too which are useful in car manufacturing.

Furniture and Home Goods

Wood and upholstery are popular to source from Turkey, particularly Kayseri and Inegol furnish rattan, but also solid-wood designs.

You can often get low minimum order quantities (MOQs) when ordering furniture and home goods from Turkey, sometimes as low as 50-200 units, so you don’t need to overcommit to a significant purchase.

Hand-knotted Anatolian carpets made in Konya and Usak are also highly sought-after goods from Turkey.

Food and Agricultural Products

Turkey produces extra-virgin olive oil, apricots, and figs that conform with HACCP and BRC standards. You can also find seafood processors in Trabzon, and nuts such as pistachios from Gaziantep which export to the U.S. with short lead delivery times.

How Do I Find Manufacturers in Turkey?

You can find manufacturers in Turkey through various sources, depending on whether you’re willing to conduct your search in the country, or online. There are limitations to relying exclusively on either online B2B marketplaces or local trade fairs and exhibitions, but both can lead to fruitful supplier relationships.

Which B2B marketplaces are best for finding Turkish manufacturers?

Turkey has several dedicated online B2B marketplaces you can use to quickly find a product sourcing manufacturer or supplier, and is represented in more general marketplaces too.

Here are some of the most reliable B2B marketplaces for finding Turkish manufacturers:

• TurkishExporter.com - TurkishExporter is a government-run website portal which features a range of MOI-vetted exporters according to the industry or sector they operate in. With a “Live Request System”, you can easily find exporters in the country and browse the active company database to find a reliable supplier.

• TradeTurkey.com - TradeTurkey.com is a top B2B marketplace which helps connect buyers to Turkish manufacturers and exporters. Companies can put in requests for certain types of goods, inviting bids and messages from suppliers and manufacturers who may be able to help.

• Alibaba - Alibaba is one of the most established online B2B global trading platforms, which features a wide array of manufacturers and suppliers specializing in various goods. While it isn’t focussed on Turkish suppliers, you can filter your search to only include them, and use all the built-in features the platform has to facilitate business relationships.

Best trade fairs and exhibitions to attend in Turkey

Heading to Turkey to attend trade fairs and exhibitions might not be feasible if you’re based in the U.S., but if you can make the trip, or have someone go on your behalf, it can help you get a real sense of who the most reliable, go-to suppliers are across different industries.

Here are some of the best trade fairs and exhibitions for finding a product sourcing partner in Turkey:

• HOMETEX - Held at the Istanbul Expo Center, HOMETEX is home to one of the largest home textiles shows anywhere around the world. At the expo you can hear from leading industry speakers, get to know world-leading textile companies, and explore various exhibitions to see if anything piques your interest.

• WIN EURASIA - WIN EURASIA is an automation and machine technologies fair at the Istanbul Expo Center. Home to more than 100 different industry speakers, 700+ exhibitors, and expert-led conferences and presentations on industry trends and solutions.

• Istanbul Coffee Festival - The Istanbul Coffee Festival is one of various coffee festivals in Turkey which showcases a range of specialty-coffee roasters and equipment.

• IMOB - One of the largest furniture exhibitions in the world, IMOB (International Istanbul Furniture Fair) is backed by the Ministry of Trade and brings together around 600 exhibitors.

• Eurasia Packaging Expo - The Eurasia Packaging Expo highlights some of the most innovative and sustainable packaging solutions across the food, beverage, and packaging industries.

How to verify supplier credibility

Before working with a supplier or manufacturer, you’ll want to do due diligence to make sure they run a legitimate business. There are various ways you can do that, both through the internet and through in-person checks and third-party audits.

• Carry out legal and tax checks - The first step to verify any Turkish manufacturer or supplier is to confirm that they’re an incorporated business via the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette, and check that they have a valid tax number.

• Check for certifications - There are various certifications, such as ISO, CE, and FDA, as well as sector-specific certifications, which let you know if a company is following best practices for safety protocol and quality assurance.

• Request a factory audit - If you want to be sure that everything is in order for the factory producing your goods, and that they can handle your order to your specifications and expectations, you can request an on-site audit through a third-party inspection firm.

• Order a small sample - By placing a small sample order, you can get your hands on the goods before you commit to a significant number of units. Be sure to evaluate everything from the dimensions and materials used to the packaging.

Challenges and Risks When Sourcing from Turkey

As with any product sourcing, there are disadvantages of sourcing from Turkey and risks to consider when using Turkish suppliers and manufactures.

Quality control issues

Sometimes you might run into quality control issues, especially with smaller workshops in Turkey which might not have robust QA (Quality Assurance) measures in place.

To mitigate this risk, you can request an on-site audit to assess everything from the working conditions to the QA systems and capacity. You can also carry out mid-run audits to make sure standards don’t slip after you’ve received your first order.

Payment security and trade agreements

Since Turkey doesn’t have a U.S. FTA (Free Trade Agreement), MFN duties will be applied to any imports.

To get around the risk of non-payment, you can use Letters of Credit, Trade Assurance or platforms like PayPal or Wise. Platforms like Wise can also help you cut out hidden fees so you aren’t stung with extra costs.

Political and economic fluctuations

The Turkish lira (TRY) has historically been a volatile currency, which means you might not always get the best deal with the exchange rate.

You can use Wise Business to get rate alerts to help get the most favorable exchange rates. This is a smart way to manage FX volatility when using overseas suppliers.

Logistics and Shipping Considerations

When shipping from Turkey, you need to think about what route you’re going to take. There are a few factors to bear in mind before you make that logistics decision.

Turkey’s export policies and regulations

For non-EU markets, such as the U.S., there are MFN tariffs placed on goods and some controlled items including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food require clearance from the Ministry of Trade which can take up to 4 weeks.

What are the best shipping methods from Turkey?

Choosing the best shipping method will depend on what you’re shipping, how much you’re shipping, and how quickly you need to receive the goods.

• FCL (Full-Container Load): With a flat rate per container, this option is best for 10 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) or more.
• LCL (Less-than-Container Load): Billed per m³, LCL is best suited for smaller batches of goods but with this method you’ll add additional handling time.
• Air freight: Air freight is a relatively fast option, which is useful for door-to-door delivery, especially if you’re shipping critical parts.
• Express couriers: The fastest option is to use express couriers. This is best for getting samples quickly or parts you need urgently.

Customs duties and import taxes to expect when sourcing from Turkey

The current reciprocal tariff rate on Turkey is 15% as of July 31st, 2025. Certain product categories may be excluded or subject to alternative rules. For example, there is a 50% surcharge on steel and aluminum. As duties and import taxes are being negotiated, it's reccomended to check the current rates.

What are the shipping costs from Turkey?

Here are some ballpark estimates of what you can expect to pay when shipping by container from Turkey:

Port of Aliaga - Port of Savannah: starting from $1,250
Izmir - Port of Los Angeles: starting from $2,650
Mersin - Port of Chicago: starting from $1,250

For air freight, you can expect to pay around $5-7 per kilogram.

The Best Way to Pay for Overseas Goods

Wise Business allows you to cut out hidden fees in the currency conversion process so you can increase your profit margin.

Wise is not a bank, but a Money Services Business (MSB) provider and a smart alternative to banks. The Wise Business account is designed with international business in mind, and makes it easy to send, hold, and manage business funds in 40+ currencies. You can get major currency account details for a one-off fee to receive overseas payments like a local. You can also send money to 140+ countries.

Open a Wise Business account online

Some key benefits of Wise Business include:

Major local account details to receive international payments with ease No monthly account fees just a simple one-off fee for account details Receive payments from e-commerce platforms such as Amazon or via Stripe. Free invoicing tool to generate and send invoices. Create invoices using the Wise invoice generator or invoice templates. Accounting integrations, including a QuickBooks Bill Pay connection. Bill payments will be synced, matched, and categorized in QuickBooks for simple reconciliation. Access to BatchTransfer. Fast payment of up to 1,000 people.

Read the guide on how to open a Wise Business account

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