The trade relationship between China and Turkey has developed rapidly in recent years, and Turkey has become an important trading partner of China in the Middle East and Europe. For transportation services between the two countries, time has become a focus of concern for many companies. This article will introduce in detail the time it takes to ship from China to Turkey.
How to Ship from China to Turkey
Turkey is located at the junction of Europe and Asia. It borders Iran in the east and Syria and Iraq in the south. As an important logistics hub and transit point, there are three main modes of transportation from China to Turkey: sea, rail and air. Choose the appropriate mode of transportation based on the nature of the goods, timeliness requirements and cost considerations.
Sea Freight
Sea freight is the most economical mode of bulk cargo transportation and is suitable for long-distance transportation of bulk goods. Since the routes and ports of ships are relatively fixed, sea transportation has a higher stability. However, the transportation time of sea transportation is usually slower, especially for long-distance transoceanic transportation.
Air Freight
Air freight is the fastest mode of transportation and is suitable for time-sensitive goods. Due to the limited air freight capacity and high freight charges, it is usually suitable for high-value, low-weight goods.
Railway Freight (China-Europe Express)
Railway freight has moderate costs and is usually suitable for bulk goods and goods with certain timeliness requirements. Since the routes of railway transportation are relatively fixed and pass through multiple countries, they may be affected by factors such as borders, tariffs, and cargo inspections. Railway transportation has a small impact on the environment and is suitable for green transportation needs.
Time of Sea Freight from China to Turkey
Generally, cargoes travel from major ports in China through the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea into the Mediterranean, and finally to Turkish ports. The voyage usually takes 30 to 40 days, depending on the specific conditions of the shipping company and the vessel. It is also affected by the following factors:
- Weather and ocean conditions: Bad weather (such as typhoons and storms) may cause delays in shipping.
- Shipping busyness: Port congestion, cargo backlogs, etc. may extend the loading and unloading time of goods.
- Customs clearance time: Customs efficiency varies in different countries, which may lead to varying degrees of customs clearance delays.
Here are the time frames for shipping from China to Turkey:
| POL (Port of Loading) | POD (Port of Discharge) | Transport time (days) |
| Shenzhen | Ambarlı | 30-38 days |
| Shanghai | Ambarlı | 31-39 days |
| Ningbo | Ambarlı | 33-38 days |
| Guangzhou | Ambarlı | 33-37 days |
| Shanghai | Kocaeli | 30-38 days |
| Shenzhen | Kocaeli | 30-40 days |
| Ningbo | Kocaeli | 30-38 days |
| Guangzhou | Kocaeli | 31-38 days |
| Shenzhen | Marmaris | 30-37 days |
| Shanghai | Marmaris | 31-38 days |
| Ningbo | Marmaris | 30-38 days |
| Guangzhou | Marmaris | 31-39 days |
Time of Air Freight from China to Turkey
It usually takes 3-7 days for goods to arrive from China to Turkey. The specific time depends on the distance between the departure city and the destination city and the flight schedule, and is also affected by the following factors:
- Climate factors: Bad weather (such as fog, thunderstorms, etc.) can affect the normal take-off and landing of flights, causing delays.
- Airport clearance efficiency: The clearance time of flights, including customs, quarantine, security checks, etc., may be delayed due to busy or special inspections.
- Air transport capacity restrictions: Air cargo space is limited. In peak seasons or when demand is high, there may be capacity constraints, affecting transportation time.
Below are the air freight times from China to Turkey:
| Departure Airport | Arrival Airport | Transport time (days) |
| Beijing Capital | Istanbul | 3-7 days |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Istanbul | 3-6 days |
| Shanghai Pudong | Istanbul | 4-7 days |
| Beijing Capital | Ankara | 3-7 days |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Ankara | 4-7 days |
| Shanghai Pudong | Ankara | 3-6 days |
| Beijing Capital | Adnan Menderes | 3-7 days |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Adnan Menderes | 3-7 days |
| Shanghai Pudong | Adnan Menderes | 4-7 days |
Time of Rail Freight from China to Turkey
China-Europe Express trains usually pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine and other countries from major cities in China, and then enter Turkey. The specific time depends on the departure city and is also affected by the following factors:
- Weather and natural disasters: Cold weather in winter or natural disasters (such as snowstorms, mudslides, etc.) may affect the speed and transportation time of the railway.
- Border crossing time: During cross-border railway transportation, the customs and quarantine procedures of various countries may affect the customs clearance time.
- The quality of railway infrastructure: The railway infrastructure in some countries may be relatively old, resulting in limited transportation speed.
| Departure Cargo Center (China) | Arrival Cargo Center (Turkey) | Transport time (days) |
| Xi’an | Istanbul | 12-15 days |
| Zhengzhou | Istanbul | 13-15 days |
| Chengdu | Istanbul | 12-15 days |
| Chongqing | Istanbul | 12-14 days |
| Yiwu | Istanbul | 12-15 days |
| Wuhan | Istanbul | 13-15 days |
If you want to know the shipping time to other countries you can read:
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Egypt
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Dubai
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Saudi Arabia?
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Iran?
Ways to Reduce Shipping Time from China to Turkey
Choose direct or fast flights
Choosing direct ships or flights can reduce transit and docking time, ensuring that goods reach their destination faster.
Flexibly arrange shipping time
Peak shipping seasons (such as Spring Festival, Black Friday, etc.) can easily lead to port and flight congestion. It is recommended to ship in advance or delay to avoid delays.
Book seats in advance
During peak seasons or logistics peaks, booking in advance can avoid delays caused by insufficient warehouse space.
Prepare documents in advance
Prepare all required documents before shipment to reduce customs clearance time. Working with a professional freight forwarder can speed up customs clearance efficiency. Required customs clearance documents:
- Bill of lading: It is a document of the cargo transportation contract, including cargo information, consignee information and port information.
- Commercial invoice: It records the type, quantity, unit price and total price of the goods in detail. This is one of the important documents for customs declaration.
- Packing list: It details the packaging, quantity, volume and weight of the goods for customs clearance and receipt.
- Certificate of origin: It proves the origin of the goods and helps determine the import tariff rate.
- Customs declaration: Depending on the type of goods, a local Egyptian customs declaration may also be required.
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to Turkey
The following is the cost range of 20ft and 40ft containers from China to Turkey. I hope it can provide you with a reference to choose the right shipping solution.
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | 20ft container cost | 40ft container cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Istanbul | $1850-$2450 | $3000-$3800 |
| Shenzhen | Istanbul | $1800-$2600 | $3050-$3750 |
| Qingdao | Istanbul | $1850-$2750 | $3050-$3750 |
| Ningbo | Istanbul | $1850-$2700 | $3050-$3650 |
| Shanghai | Mersin | $1950-$2450 | $3050-$3800 |
| Shenzhen | Mersin | $1900-$2700 | $3000-$4000 |
| Qingdao | Mersin | $1850-$2550 | $3050-$3900 |
| Ningbo | Mersin | $1800-$2550 | $3050-$3850 |
| Shanghai | Izmir | $1850-$2750 | $3050-$3750 |
| Shenzhen | Izmir | $1850-$2450 | $3000-$4000 |
| Qingdao | Izmir | $1900-$2700 | $3000-$3800 |
| Ningbo | Izmir | $1850-$2700 | $3050-$3850 |
Learn more: How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Turkey
Steps to Ship from China to Turkey
The shipping process is as follows:
Confirm the goods and transportation method
Choose the appropriate transportation method according to the type of goods, timeliness requirements and cost.
Prepare documents
Complete the documents required for customs clearance such as commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, etc.
Booking
Contact the freight forwarder or logistics company to book the cabin, car or air freight space.
Loading and shipping
Load the goods into containers or pack them and send them to the port, airport or freight center.
Export customs declaration
Complete the export customs clearance procedures in China to ensure that the goods are legally exported.
Transportation
The goods are transported to the designated port or airport in Turkey according to the selected transportation method.
Import customs clearance
Complete the customs clearance procedures at the destination port or airport in Turkey.
Transport to the final destination
After customs clearance is completed, the goods are shipped to the final delivery point in Turkey.
The time for shipping from China to Turkey varies depending on the mode of transportation. By choosing the right mode and optimizing the transportation process, you can save costs while meeting your transportation needs. Efficiently transport goods to the destination