Most first-time buyers ask the same three questions: pallet or container, which port, and how long will it take. This guide answers them for shipments from Turkey to the United Kingdom and the United States, with the documents customs will ask for on arrival.
1. Pallet delivery from Turkey: when it makes sense
A palletised shipment (groupage / LCL) is the right choice when your order is below roughly one third of a 20-foot container. For natural stone that usually means samples, a trial order of a few pallets of wholesale travertine tiles, or mixed pallets of tiles and mosaics. You pay for the space and weight you use, but the price per square metre is higher than in a full container and the goods are handled several times in transit.
- To the UK: pallets normally travel by road-and-ferry or by sea groupage via Istanbul (Ambarlı) or Izmir. Door-to-door delivery to England typically takes 7 to 14 days by road, longer by sea.
- To the USA: pallet shipments go as LCL sea freight through consolidation hubs, so plan for 4 to 6 weeks door-to-door on the East Coast and more on the West Coast.
- Pallets must be ISPM-15 heat-treated (the stamped "HT" mark). Untreated wood packaging is rejected at UK and US borders.
2. Container shipping: 20' vs 40'
Natural stone is heavy, so the limit is weight, not space. A 20-foot container carries roughly 21 to 24 tonnes of stone, which is about 400 to 450 m² of 2 cm travertine tiles or 250 to 300 m² of 3 cm pavers. A 40-foot container has the same road weight limit in most countries, so it is only useful for lighter goods such as ceramic tiles, insulation or furniture. Use our container calculator to check how many square metres or pieces fit before you request a quote.
3. Turkish export ports
- Izmir / Aliağa – the main gateway for travertine, marble and tiles from the Aegean quarries (Denizli, Afyon, Burdur).
- Mersin – south coast, best for goods from central Anatolia and for Gulf and US Gulf routes.
- Gemlik and Ambarlı (Istanbul) – Marmara region factories, frequent departures to Northern Europe and the UK.
Your supplier's location decides the cheapest port; a factory in Denizli will always quote FOB Izmir.
4. Typical transit times
| Route | Sea freight (port to port) | Road (door to door) |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey → UK (Felixstowe / Southampton) | 12–20 days | 7–12 days |
| Turkey → US East Coast (New York, Savannah) | 20–30 days | – |
| Turkey → US West Coast (Los Angeles) | 35–45 days | – |
| Turkey → Northern Europe (Rotterdam, Hamburg) | 10–18 days | 5–8 days |
Add 1 to 2 weeks for production and loading, and a few days for customs release. Times are typical, not guaranteed; peak season and port congestion can add a week.
5. FOB, CIF or DAP: which Incoterm?
FOB (Free On Board, e.g. FOB Izmir) is the most common B2B term: the factory delivers the loaded container to the vessel, you appoint the forwarder and control freight and insurance. CIF includes sea freight and insurance to your port; convenient for a first order. DAP (delivered to your warehouse, duties unpaid) is only worth it if the seller has a strong forwarder on your side. Read the full how to order from Turkey guide for payment terms (T/T, L/C) that go with each Incoterm.
6. Customs and duties
- UK: the UK–Turkey Free Trade Agreement (in force since 2021) gives preferential (mostly zero) duty on originating industrial goods such as stone and tiles, backed by an origin declaration on the invoice or an EUR.1 certificate. Import VAT (20%) is payable and normally reclaimable.
- USA: there is no free-trade agreement, so duty follows the HTS code (worked stone under 6802, ceramic tiles under 6907) at the normal MFN rate. Your customs broker files the entry; an ISF (10+2) filing is required before loading.
- EU: the EU–Turkey Customs Union means industrial goods travel duty-free with an A.TR movement certificate; only VAT is due at import.
Documents in every case: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin or A.TR / EUR.1, and for stone and tiles a Declaration of Performance (CE marking) is expected in the UK and EU.
7. What we do for you
OrderFromTurkey consolidates orders from verified factories, checks the loading, prepares the export documents and books the freight on your behalf, FOB or CIF. Compare prices on travertine, Turkish marble and wall tiles, then request a quote with your destination port and we return a landed-cost estimate. Country-specific notes: ordering from Turkey to the UK and to the USA.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a pallet from Turkey to the UK?
It depends on weight, dimensions and the delivery postcode; a single standard pallet by road groupage is usually a few hundred pounds. Ask for a quote with the pallet count and weight and we include freight in the offer.
How long does shipping from Turkey to the USA take?
Typically 20 to 30 days port to port for the East Coast and 35 to 45 days for the West Coast, plus production time and customs clearance.
Can I order less than a container?
Yes. Palletised LCL shipments are available; the minimum order for travertine tiles starts from 30 m² and most tiles are sold by the pallet.
Do Turkish suppliers deliver door to door?
Yes, on DAP or DDP terms through a forwarder. Most buyers still prefer FOB or CIF because they keep control of the import clearance.
Which documents do I need to import stone from Turkey?
Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, origin proof (A.TR for the EU, EUR.1 or invoice declaration for the UK, certificate of origin for the USA) and the CE Declaration of Performance for tiles and dimension stone.