Construction Materials Import and Export: Logistics from Ceramics to Steel

Construction materials are heavy, bulky and often fragile, so the right container, proper securing and correct paperwork have a direct impact on cost. If you are a small business planning to bring in ceramics, sanitaryware, aluminium profiles or insulation, this page shows you what to check on your first shipment. There is also a short section for those exporting from Turkey.

Where construction material imports usually come from

China is the most common source for fittings, sanitaryware accessories, aluminium and steel products, insulation and hardware. Italy and Spain stand out for design ceramics and natural stone, while Germany and other EU countries are strong in technical insulation and building chemicals. India, Brazil and others are popular for granite and natural stone.

Transport mode usually follows this logic:

• From the Far East: Sea freight is almost always the only sensible option. Heavy goods go in 20’ containers, light and bulky goods in 40’ containers. If your first order is small, start with LCL.
• From Europe: For small and medium loads, groupage or full-truck road freight is often more practical.
• Very large or non-standard pieces: Long steel sections, large stone blocks or equipment may need open top or flat rack containers, or breakbulk, meaning uncontainerised cargo, when they will not fit in a container at all.

Your first import, step by step

1. Identify the product and its HS code. For construction materials the tariff code determines obligations such as TAREKS inspection, anti-dumping duty and additional duty. Check it with your customs broker before ordering.
2. Ask the supplier for documents. CE-marked products need a declaration of performance and notified body certificates; products under national standards need test reports.
3. Calculate weight and volume. With heavy goods it is the weight limit, not the volume, that decides. Ask for a packing list with pallet weights.
4. Agree delivery terms. Put who pays freight and where risk passes into the contract with an Incoterms rule. Our Incoterms tool makes the choice easier.
5. Plan loading and securing. For fragile goods, agree packaging and stowage with your supplier in advance and ask for loading photos if possible.
6. TAREKS application and clearance. For inspected products the application is filed electronically; based on risk analysis, goods may be selected for a physical check.
7. Delivery and unloading. Arrange a forklift and unloading equipment at the delivery address ahead of time for heavy pallets.

Regulations and permits

CE and G marking for construction products

In Turkey, construction products fall under the Construction Products Regulation, aligned with the EU’s Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011. Products covered by a harmonised European standard are placed on the market with CE marking and a declaration of performance. Some products without a European standard instead carry the national G mark. Which mark applies depends on the product and its standard.

TAREKS import inspections

As of October 2026, imports of certain construction products are inspected by the Ministry of Trade under the Communiqué on Import Inspection of Construction Products (Product Safety and Inspection: 2026/14), in force since 1 January 2026. Inspections run through TAREKS, Turkey’s risk-based control system, and your company must be registered on it. The annexes include items such as cement, reinforcing steel bars and structural steel products. The application may require customs documents, a declaration of performance or conformity certificates, and product photos. Whatever the inspection outcome, the importer remains responsible for product conformity.

Anti-dumping and additional duties

Turkey applies anti-dumping measures to certain products from certain countries, such as some steel and aluminium items; hot-rolled flat steel and some Chinese-origin aluminium products are examples. These measures vary by product, origin and even manufacturer, and are updated frequently through new communiqués. Some products may also be subject to additional customs duty.

An anti-dumping duty can turn a cheap-looking quote into a loss overnight. Before ordering, check the current measures for your product’s tariff code and origin with your customs broker.

Transport and packaging tips

The heavy-cargo logic of a 20’ container

Dense goods such as ceramics, granite, marble and steel reach a container’s weight limit long before they fill its volume. Many 20’ containers have a maximum gross weight of around 30,480 kg, but the container’s own tare weight, carrier limits and road weight limits in the destination country can reduce your real payload well below that. That is why heavy goods go in 20’ containers and light, bulky goods (insulation boards, profiles) in 40’ containers. Under SOLAS rules, each container’s verified gross mass (VGM) must also be declared before loading. You can visualise your load in advance with our load planner.

Securing and packaging

• Spread weight evenly across the container floor; never stack it at one end.
• Ship ceramics and sanitaryware on sturdy pallets with corner protectors and stretch wrap.
• Use A-frames or wooden crates for marble and granite slabs, and fill gaps with chocks.
• Protect aluminium profile surfaces from scratches with protective film.
• Make sure wooden packaging is treated to the ISPM 15 standard.

See our container types page to choose equipment.

Common mistakes

• Choosing a container by volume and exceeding the weight limit. An overweight container may be refused at the port or trigger extra costs.
• Comparing prices without factoring in anti-dumping and additional duties.
• Ordering without CE documents or a declaration of performance.
• Leaving packaging quality to the supplier on fragile goods and skipping insurance.
• Discovering at the last minute that there is no unloading equipment at the delivery address.
• Product descriptions that do not match across the proforma invoice, packing list and declaration of performance. Every mismatch slows down TAREKS and customs.
• Placing a large order without seeing samples. Shade and calibre differences in ceramics, or colour and coating differences in profiles, only show up in samples, which you can bring in quickly by express cargo.

Construction material exports from Turkey

Turkey is a strong exporter of construction materials. According to worldsteel, Turkey was the world’s seventh-largest crude steel producer in 2025, and according to the Turkish Cement Manufacturers’ Association it was the world’s leading cement exporter in 2023. Ceramic tiles and sanitaryware are also significant export items. Exports to the EU require CE marking and a declaration of performance, and for some products the reporting obligations of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) may also apply. Medius supports your export shipments too, by sea, road and as project cargo.

How Medius helps in this sector

As a boutique forwarder, we plan your first construction material shipment with you:

• Sea freight suited to heavy cargo: FCL, LCL, open top and flat rack options.
• Project logistics and breakbulk arrangements for out-of-gauge cargo.
• Customs clearance coordinated with your customs broker, plus guidance on TAREKS paperwork.
• Cargo insurance for fragile and high-value goods.

Frequently asked questions

My first order will not fill a container. What should I do?

You can start with LCL and share a container. With very heavy or fragile goods, though, LCL involves extra handling, so stronger packaging matters.

Which construction products are subject to TAREKS inspection?

Products listed in the annexes of the communiqué are inspected; the list is based on tariff codes and can change every year. Check with your customs broker whether your product is on it.

How many tonnes of ceramics can I load into a 20’ container?

The exact figure depends on the container’s tare weight, the carrier’s limit and road weight limits in the destination country. We work these limits out together at the quotation stage.

When is breakbulk needed?

Breakbulk is considered when cargo will not fit in a container because of its size or weight, even on a flat rack. Such cargo is planned on a project basis.

If you are planning a construction material import or export, share your product, weight and route and we will find the best transport option together. Reach us through our quote form.