16 February 2026 9 minute read

Formal B2B Import from China to Turkey: 2026 Commercial Execution

Importing wholesale products from China into Turkey is no longer limited to large corporations. However, the difference between profitable commercial importing and risky, trial-and-error purchasing comes down to one thing: operational discipline.

Many online guides explain how to "order from a website," but very few explain how to execute container-scale imports into Turkey without facing customs seizures, valuation penalties, or regulatory rejections. In 2026, with the Turkish government strictly tightening import regimes and abolishing simplified e-commerce customs procedures, treating international trade like a simple online checkout is a recipe for capital loss.

This guide is written specifically for Turkish factories, distributors, procurement teams, and serious SMEs planning structured commercial imports—not small parcel or hobby trading.

Çin’den Ürün Getirmek: Bireysel ve Ticari İthalat Arasındaki Fark

When researching the market, many people use broad terms like çinden ürün getirmek or çinden ürün ithal etmek. However, this phrasing often blurs the critical line between a hobbyist and a professional buyer. In early 2026, the Turkish government fundamentally reshaped this landscape by ending the simplified customs declaration regime for low-value goods.

Bireysel / Küçük Hacimli İthalat (Individual / Small Parcel): This refers to micro-purchases or trying to execute alibaba’dan ürün getirmek for dropshipping or personal use. Previously, packages under €150 (and later €30) enjoyed simplified entry. Today, that exemption is gone. Even küçük hacimli ithalat faces full customs clearance, flat taxes, and strict inspections.
Ticari / Konteyner Ölçekli İthalat (Commercial / Container Scale): This is structured B2B procurement. It involves importing pallets (LCL) or full containers (FCL) of industrial parts, machinery, or wholesale consumer goods. It requires a registered corporate entity, precise GTIP classification, TAREKS compliance, and formal customs declarations (Beyanname).

If you are a serious SME, you must filter out the "small parcel" mindset. Commercial importing is not about finding the cheapest "Add to Cart" button; it is about risk management, regulatory execution, and supply chain control.

Step 1: Product Feasibility and Regulatory Risk Analysis

Before you even contact a supplier, you must analyze the regulatory reality of your product at the Turkish border. The profit in importing is often lost at customs, not at the factory.

HS Code (GTIP) Determination

Every product must be mapped to a 12-digit GTIP (Gümrük Tarife İstatistik Pozisyonu). Incorrect classification can trigger severe penalties, retroactive tax reassessments, or aggressive customs inspections.

The 2026 Import Regime and Additional Duties (İGV)

Turkey frequently updates its import regime to protect domestic producers. Products arriving from non-EU origins (like China) are often subject to Additional Customs Duties (İlave Gümrük Vergisi - İGV). In 2026, duties of up to 48% apply to categories like steel, copper, aluminum, textiles, and electronics. Furthermore, customs authorities apply "Gözetim" (Surveillance) reference pricing, meaning your taxes may be calculated based on a state-mandated minimum value rather than your invoice price.

TAREKS and Conformity Controls

Certain product groups—such as toys, footwear, leather goods, and telecommunications equipment—require mandatory pre-screening through the TAREKS system. This requires:

Company registration via MERSİS with a qualified e-signature.
Valid lab test reports and CE conformity documentation.
Risk-based physical inspections. Failure to provide proper documentation before the goods arrive results in blocked entry and massive demurrage (port storage) costs.

Step 2: Supplier Verification and Commercial Due Diligence

Finding a supplier in China is easy. Verifying one is not. A "Gold Supplier" badge on a B2B platform is a paid marketing status, not a guarantee of manufacturing capability or financial stability.

Legal Company Verification

You must confirm the supplier's legal registration, business scope, and actual export capability. Are you dealing with the manufacturer, or a trading company marking up the price?

Production Capacity and Quality Control

Does the factory actually have the infrastructure to match your volume expectations within your required lead time? To eliminate fraud (fake factories, material substitution, advance payment disappearance), serious importers conduct physical on-site factory audits in China before any funds are transferred. At Lupos Dış Ticaret, our permanent presence on the ground allows us to perform professional factory inspection protocols, verifying the supplier’s legal existence and production capacity locally before you risk a single dollar of payment.

Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI)

Quality degradation during mass production is a common risk. Implementing random sampling based on AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) standards before the container is sealed and the final payment is made is the only way to protect your investment. You cannot easily return a defective container from Ankara to Shenzhen.

Step 3: Cost Structure Beyond the Unit Price

Most beginner guides focus solely on the EXW (Ex Works) or FOB (Free on Board) unit price. Real landed cost modeling must include:

Inland transport in China and export handling.
Sea, air, or rail freight costs.
Cargo insurance (damage claims are severely underestimated).
Customs duties, İGV, and 20% standard VAT (KDV).
Customs broker fees, TAREKS application fees, and TSE inspection costs.
Port warehousing and domestic trucking.

Without a comprehensive landed cost analysis, a product that looks cheap in China can easily destroy your profit margin by the time it reaches your warehouse in Turkey. To complement your cost modeling with strategic product selection, you can review our research guide on the most profitable products from China to identify high-margin opportunities for the Turkish market.

Step 4: Logistics Strategy and Freight Contracting

Your choice of logistics directly impacts your cash flow and risk exposure.

FCL, LCL, and Rail Alternatives

Sea Freight (FCL/LCL): The most cost-effective method for bulk volume, typically taking 30–40 days to reach ports like Ambarlı or Mersin.
Air Freight: Fast (4–7 days) but expensive. Used primarily for urgent, high-value, or lightweight industrial components.
Rail Freight (The Middle Corridor): Gaining traction as a balanced alternative, offering 20–25 day transit times for mid-sized shipments.

Managing shipments from China is more than simple transportation; it is an operational process integrated with customs regulations. At Lupos Dış Ticaret, we handle all freight and clearance stages on your behalf, providing end-to-end import logistics and customs management solutions from door to door.

Documentation Accuracy

A mismatch between your commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading will trigger a customs hold. Ensure your supplier prepares documentation exactly as required by Turkish customs, matching your determined GTIP codes perfectly.

Step 5: Turkish Customs Execution

Commercial imports into Turkey require flawless execution at the border.

Accurate Customs Declaration

Declaring an artificially low value to save on taxes is a massive risk. Turkish Customs uses advanced risk analysis systems. If your invoice is flagged for valuation investigation, your goods will be held, and you will face severe financial penalties.

Container-Scale Risk Management

When importing wholesale, your exposure includes currency fluctuation, delayed shipment penalties, and inspection holds. Risk planning must occur before the shipment departs China.

Structured Import Execution vs. Marketplace Buying

Marketplace blogs teach you how to place an order. Professional import execution involves pre-shipment compliance validation, supplier due diligence, precise cost modeling, and end-to-end risk management.

At Lupos Dış Ticaret, based in Ostim, Ankara, we do not operate as simple middlemen or commissioned sourcing agents. We act as your accountable, outsourced import department. We prioritize fraud prevention, regulatory compliance, and safe execution over "fast and cheap" promises, ensuring your capital is protected from the factory floor in China to your facility in Turkey. To see our operational discipline in action across various industrial sectors, you can review our completed import projects directory and see the proof of our structured work.

At Lupos Dış Ticaret, based in Ostim, Ankara, we do not operate as simple middlemen or commissioned sourcing agents. We act as your accountable, outsourced import department. We prioritize fraud prevention, regulatory compliance, and safe execution over "fast and cheap" promises, ensuring your capital is protected from the factory floor in China to your facility in Turkey. To mitigate operational risks and secure your margins, contact us for help with your import plan.