Machinery Import and Industrial Equipment Shipping: A Guide for First-Time Importers

For a small business, a single machine is often the biggest investment of the year. One overlooked detail in shipping or customs can leave it sitting at the port while your production start slips. This page walks first-time importers through sourcing countries, permits, packing and insurance for machinery imports into Turkey.

Where machinery imports come from

Most machinery and industrial equipment entering Turkey comes from three sources, each with its own transport pattern and paperwork.

• China: The go-to source for value-priced CNC machines, plastic injection moulding, packaging, laser cutting and food processing equipment. Machines usually move by sea from ports such as Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao or Shenzhen; urgent spare parts fly.
• Germany: High-precision machine tools, automation and measuring equipment, plus a large used machinery market. Shipments go by road (full or part load) or by sea via Hamburg.
• Italy: Strong in packaging, food, textile, woodworking and stone machinery. Road freight and sea freight via ports such as Genoa are both common.

Starting with a small shipment

You don’t need to book a whole container for one machine tool or a box of spare parts. With LCL (less than container load), your cargo shares a container with other shipments and you pay only for the space and weight it uses. Groupage road freight from Europe works the same way. One caveat: consolidation warehouses have limited lifting capacity, so very heavy or single-piece machines may not fit the LCL model. Share dimensions and weight when you ask for a quote.

Your first machinery import, step by step

1. Confirm the HS code. The tariff code decides the customs duty, any additional duty and which inspections apply. Settle it with your customs broker before you order.
2. Check origin and duties. Industrial goods from the EU enter duty-free under the Customs Union when accompanied by an A.TR movement certificate. Some machinery from countries without a free trade agreement with Turkey, such as China, may face additional customs duty. VAT is charged separately in every case.
3. Get your incentive certificate first. If you plan to use an investment incentive certificate, the machine must be listed on it before import.
4. Agree on the Incoterm. Under EXW, loading at the factory and export clearance are your responsibility; under FCA or FOB they shift to the seller. For heavy machines, put loading responsibility in writing.
5. Ask the seller for technical documents. Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, CE marking, EC declaration of conformity and a Turkish-language user manual form your basic checklist.
6. Collect dimensions, weight and lifting data. Gross weight, size, centre of gravity and lifting points are essential for choosing the right equipment.
7. Insure before loading. Make sure cover runs from loading at origin to delivery at your site.
8. Plan the arrival. Think ahead about how the machine will be unloaded at your plant: forklift, crane or ramp.

Regulations and permits

The summary below reflects the rules in force as of October 2026. Requirements vary by HS code, so confirm each shipment with your customs broker.

Machinery safety, CE marking and TAREKS inspection

New machines fall under Turkey’s Machinery Safety Regulation, which mirrors EU Directive 2006/42/EC. Machines are expected to carry CE marking, come with an EC declaration of conformity and include a Turkish user manual. At import, products covered by the Ministry of Trade’s Machinery Import Inspection Communiqué (Product Safety and Inspection: 2026/32) are checked through TAREKS, Turkey’s risk-based trade control system. The importer files the application and uploads documents, and a physical inspection may follow depending on the risk analysis. With the new EU Machinery Regulation applying from early 2027, it is worth watching for Turkey’s matching updates.

Importing used (second-hand) machinery

Used machinery cannot be imported freely. Under the Communiqué on the Import of Used or Refurbished Goods (Import: 2026/9), you need an electronic permit from the Ministry of Trade’s Directorate General of Imports. For certain machine groups on the communiqué’s list, age limits and minimum unit value requirements apply; goods outside the list use a separate permit type. Permits are valid for a limited period, so:

• Check whether your machine can be permitted before you buy it.
• Ask the seller for documents showing year of manufacture, serial number and technical specifications.
• Don’t ship the machine until the permit is issued.

Investment incentive certificate

An incentive certificate under Presidential Decree No. 9903 on State Aid for Investments, in force since 2025, can provide support such as customs duty exemption and VAT exemption on listed machinery. You apply to the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and the machines to be imported must appear on the certificate. Available support depends on the investment type and region, so working with an incentive consultant is a good idea.

Other checks

Some products face extra controls, such as energy efficiency or electrical equipment rules, and certain origins may attract additional duty or anti-dumping measures. All of these are determined by HS code.

Transport and packing tips

The size of the machine decides the equipment you need:

• Standard container (20’/40’): For machines that fit through the doors and can be secured to the floor.
• Open top: For machines too tall for a standard box or that must be crane-loaded from above.
• Flat rack: For out-of-gauge, heavy pieces exceeding standard width or height.
• Project cargo / break bulk: For very large single pieces, production lines or plant relocations. A route survey and special permits may be needed.

Packing checklist:

• Where possible, dismantle the machine with a qualified team; number and photograph the parts.
• Use anti-corrosion treatment and desiccants; condensation at sea can cause serious damage.
• Make sure wooden crates and pallets carry the ISPM 15 mark.
• Mark the centre of gravity and lifting points on the packaging.
• Secure the machine inside the container with proper lashing and blocking.

When insuring, include the real value of the machine and extra costs such as dismantling and reinstallation. Under-insurance means any claim will be paid short as well.

Common mistakes

• Buying a used machine without checking whether it can be permitted.
• Trying to obtain the incentive certificate after the machine has arrived.
• Giving estimated dimensions and weight, then booking the wrong container or truck.
• Discovering at customs that the CE certificate, declaration of conformity or Turkish manual is missing.
• Buying EXW without agreeing who loads the machine at the factory.
• Skipping insurance or insuring below invoice value.

Machinery exports from Turkey

Turkey is a strong exporter of agricultural machinery, construction equipment and industrial machinery. If you export machines, the same packing, securing and insurance rules apply, and Medius can plan your export shipments to Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia as well.

How Medius helps in this sector

As a boutique forwarder, we give small first shipments the same attention as large ones and stay with you step by step through your first import:

• LCL and FCL sea freight from China and Europe, plus part and full truckloads by road from Europe.
• Open top, flat rack and project logistics planning for heavy and out-of-gauge machinery.
• Customs clearance coordination with your broker: document checks and follow-up on TAREKS and permit processes.
• Cargo insurance matched to the value of your machine.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use LCL for a single machine?

Yes. If the machine is palletised or crated and within the lifting capacity of consolidation warehouses, LCL is cost-effective. For very heavy or large single pieces, FCL, open top or flat rack is usually safer.

Is there an age limit for importing used machinery into Turkey?

Age limits apply to certain machine groups listed in the communiqué on used or refurbished goods. The limit depends on the type of machine, so check your HS code with your customs broker.

Do I pay customs duty on machinery from the EU?

Industrial goods of EU origin enter without customs duty when accompanied by an A.TR certificate. VAT and any other applicable charges still apply.

Can I import a machine without CE marking?

New machines covered by the Machinery Safety Regulation need CE marking and a declaration of conformity; missing documents cause problems at the TAREKS inspection. Ask the seller for them before you buy.

If you are getting ready to bring in your first machine, share its dimensions, weight and supplier details through our quote form and we will work out the right transport option together.