Freight forwarder from Turkey to Europe: road, sea and air
SMETRD is an Istanbul-based freight forwarding and trading business. It arranges road, sea and air freight from Turkey to 43 European countries and supplies iron and steel products, plastic raw materials, chemicals and paint on a wholesale basis. Prices are given as individual quotes.
Freight forwarder from Turkey to Europe
A freight forwarder plans the transport, books the carrier, prepares the shipping documents and coordinates customs so that goods move from the seller's door to the buyer's door. SMETRD does this for cargo leaving Istanbul and Turkey for any European destination, by truck, container ship or aircraft.
The service is aimed at importers, manufacturers and traders who buy from Turkish suppliers and want one contact for transport and paperwork instead of several.
Road, sea and air freight from Istanbul
Road freight carries most European consignments from Turkey because it runs door to door. Sea freight suits heavy, bulky and non-urgent cargo in containers or on ro-ro vessels. Air freight is for small, valuable or urgent shipments. Many customers combine two modes depending on the product and deadline.
Each mode has its own page with routes, documents and cost drivers, so you can compare before requesting a quote.
Road freight from Turkey to Europe
Which countries do we deliver to?
SMETRD arranges freight from Turkey to 43 European countries and territories, from Germany, Poland and Italy to the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway and the Balkans. Each destination has its own page covering border crossings, ports, airports, customs and the documents that apply to that country.
Russia and Belarus are not served. If your destination is not listed, send the address and the goods description and we will confirm whether it can be arranged.
Freight forwarder Turkey to Germany
How does shipping from Turkey to Europe work?
You send the pickup and delivery addresses, goods description, weight, dimensions and preferred Incoterm. SMETRD returns a quote for the mode you choose, books the transport after confirmation, collects the goods, handles export and import paperwork with a customs agent, and keeps you informed until delivery.
- Request and quote
- Booking and pickup in Turkey
- Export clearance and transport
- Import clearance in the destination country
- Delivery and proof of delivery
Road freight from Turkey
Trucks from Istanbul normally leave Turkey through Kapıkule or Hamzabeyli into Bulgaria and continue through the Balkans or Romania and Hungary. Full truckloads, groupage and special equipment such as reefers are available. Road is the default choice for pallets, machinery parts and regular supply to Central and Western Europe.
Our road page explains FTL and groupage, CMR consignment notes, T1 transit and border waiting times in more depth.
Sea freight from Turkey
Sea freight moves containers and bulk cargo from Turkish ports such as Ambarlı, Mersin, İzmir and Gemlik to European ports, directly or with transshipment. It is the cost-conscious option for heavy goods like steel and polymer granules when the schedule allows a longer transit.
Ro-ro ferries between Turkey and Italy offer an alternative for trailers that avoids part of the road journey.
Air freight from Turkey
Air cargo leaves mainly from Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), with additional capacity from Izmir and Ankara. It reaches European hubs within days and suits samples, spare parts, high-value goods and urgent replenishment. Billing follows chargeable weight, which can be higher than the actual weight.
Dangerous goods and temperature-controlled products need airline acceptance before booking.
Customs clearance and documents
Goods leaving Turkey need an export declaration, and goods entering Europe need an import declaration lodged in the destination country. The usual set is a commercial invoice, packing list and transport document, plus an A.TR or EUR.1 certificate, a T1 transit document or product certificates where the goods require them.
Customs rules differ between EU members and non-EU destinations such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway, so each country page lists the points that matter locally.
Transit times by mode
As a planning range, road freight from Istanbul to Central Europe takes about four to eight days, sea freight from one week to several weeks depending on routing, and air freight one to three days. Border queues, port congestion and customs checks can change these figures, so confirm them per shipment.
These are indicative ranges, not guarantees. The confirmed transit time is stated in the quote once route, mode and departure date are agreed.
What does freight from Turkey cost?
There is no standard price for freight from Turkey because it depends on mode, weight, volume, distance, cargo type, urgency and season. SMETRD gives quotes on request. The more complete your shipment data, the faster and more accurate the quotation will be.
Fuel, border waiting time, port charges and airline surcharges all move the rate, which is why a published price list would be misleading.
Steel, plastic raw materials, chemicals and paint wholesale from Turkey
Besides transport, SMETRD trades iron and steel products, plastic raw materials, chemicals and paint in wholesale quantities. Orders are quoted on request, delivered with the relevant certificates such as EN 10204 3.1 for steel, and can be combined with freight to your European address in one offer.
Chemicals and paint are shipped with safety data sheets and, where applicable, ADR dangerous goods documentation.
How to request a quote
Email [email protected] with the pickup address, delivery address, goods description, number of packages, weight, dimensions, preferred mode and Incoterm, plus the HS code if you have it. A complete request lets us confirm routing, documents and a quotation without back-and-forth.
- Pickup and delivery addresses
- Goods description and HS code
- Weight, volume and package count
- Incoterm and target dates
- Special requirements such as ADR, reefer or oversize
Why use a freight forwarder in Istanbul?
A forwarder in Istanbul knows the Turkish departure side: export clearance, local carriers, port and airport procedures. It also removes the need to manage hauliers, customs agents and carriers separately. For buyers abroad, one point of contact reduces mistakes in documents and delays at the border.
Istanbul is the centre of Turkish industry and trade, so most suppliers, ports and airports are within reach of a single dispatch point.
Cargo insurance and liability
Carrier liability under the CMR convention for road transport is limited by weight, and sea and air carriers also cap their liability. A separate cargo insurance policy covers the full value of the goods and a wider set of risks. Valuable or fragile shipments should always be insured.
Tell us the invoice value when requesting a quote, and insurance can be offered alongside the freight.
Special cargo: dangerous goods, temperature-controlled and oversize
Dangerous goods travel under ADR by road, IMDG by sea and IATA rules by air, with correct packaging, labels and a safety data sheet. Temperature-controlled goods need reefer trucks or containers. Oversize cargo needs permits and route planning. Declare these features at the quote stage.
Late disclosure of dangerous or oversize goods is a common reason for refused loading and extra cost.
Frequently asked questions about shipping from Turkey
The most common questions concern transit time, customs duty, the right certificate and the data needed for a quote. Short answers appear in the section below, and each country page repeats the points that depend on the destination, such as import VAT and local road rules.
If your question is not covered, write to [email protected] and describe the shipment.
Where we are: Istanbul office
SMETRD is located at Adem Yavuz Sokak No:7, Merdivenköy, 34732 Kadıköy, Istanbul, on the Anatolian side of the city. Quotes, bookings and questions are handled by email, and goods are collected from suppliers across Turkey rather than at the office.
Contact SMETRD
Write to [email protected] with your shipment details or product enquiry. Mention the destination country, the mode you prefer and any deadline. You will receive a reply with questions or a quote, and bookings are confirmed in writing before any transport is arranged.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from Turkey to Europe take?
As a planning range, road takes about four to eight days to Central Europe, sea one to several weeks and air one to three days. The exact time depends on route, border queues and customs, and is confirmed in each quote.
Do I pay customs duty on goods from Turkey?
Industrial goods in free circulation under the EU-Turkey customs union can generally enter the EU without duty when the correct proof is provided. Agricultural goods and steel follow separate rules, and import VAT still applies.
What is the difference between FTL and groupage?
FTL books a whole trailer for one shipper. Groupage, also called LTL or part load, shares a trailer between several shippers and charges for the space you use, with a slower scheduled departure.
Which documents do I need to import from Turkey?
Usually a commercial invoice, a packing list and a transport document, plus an A.TR or EUR.1 certificate, a T1 or EAD transit document and product certificates when required for the goods.
Can SMETRD ship to the United Kingdom after Brexit?
Yes. Goods for the UK need customs declarations on import, and the importer needs the right registrations. Duty and VAT depend on origin, classification and value, so confirm them before shipping.
What does SMETRD need to give me a quote?
Pickup and delivery addresses, goods description, weight, dimensions, package count, preferred mode and Incoterm. The HS code and any special handling needs, such as ADR or temperature control, make the quote more accurate.