Shipping from Turkey to the USA is one of the busiest transatlantic trade lanes, carrying steel, stone, machinery, textiles, carpets, and food from Turkish factories to American buyers. This guide covers everything you need to plan a shipment: what it costs by ocean and air, how long it takes, which mode fits your cargo, how US customs clearance and the ISF filing work, what duties and tariffs apply, and the exact step-by-step process. When you are ready to book, our freight forwarding from Turkey to the USA service runs the lane end to end.
| Method | Indicative cost | Transit (port to port) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean FCL 20ft | $2,200–$3,750 | 16–24 days (East Coast) | full loads, heavy/dense cargo |
| Ocean FCL 40ft | $3,000–$4,750 | 16–24 days (East Coast) | high-volume loads |
| Ocean LCL | $90–$160 per CBM | 18–28 days | smaller shipments, 1–15 CBM |
| Air freight | $4–$8 per kg | 1–3 days | urgent, high-value, low-weight |
Add 2–5 business days for US customs clearance. West Coast routings (Los Angeles/Long Beach) add 10–16 days versus the East Coast.
Total landed cost has four layers: freight, origin charges, destination charges, and US duties/fees.
Ocean is the cheapest mode for anything that is not urgent. A 20ft container from Ambarlı or Mersin to the US East Coast runs roughly $2,200–$3,750, a 40ft $3,000–$4,750, depending on season, carrier, and fuel. For partial loads, ocean LCL is priced per cubic meter (about $90–$160/CBM), with a minimum bill-of-lading charge on very small shipments. Compare modes on our ocean freight to Turkey page.
Air runs about $4–$8 per kg (charged on the greater of actual or volumetric weight) from Istanbul to US gateways, justified when speed or product value is high. See air freight to Turkey.
Expect origin haulage and export handling in Turkey, destination terminal handling and drayage in the US, customs brokerage, the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF), and the Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) on ocean cargo, plus duty (see tariffs below). We bill in USD to remove Turkish Lira FX exposure.
There are no all-water direct services to every US port; East Coast calls are most frequent.
| Origin → destination | Mode | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Ambarlı (Istanbul) → New York/Newark | Ocean | 16–22 days |
| Mersin → Savannah / Charleston | Ocean | 18–26 days |
| İzmir/Aliağa → Houston | Ocean | 22–30 days |
| Ambarlı / Mersin → Los Angeles/Long Beach | Ocean | 30–40 days |
| Istanbul (IST) → JFK / MIA / ORD | Air | 1–3 days |
Customs clearance adds 2–5 business days, more if CBP flags the shipment for examination.
New York/Newark, Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, Baltimore, and Houston on the ocean side; Los Angeles/Long Beach for West Coast; JFK, MIA, and ORD for air.
All commercial imports clear through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Firearms and ammunition, certain chemicals and hazardous materials, counterfeit goods, and unapproved food or pharmaceuticals require permits or are barred. We screen every shipment against CBP and partner-agency rules before loading.
Use export-grade, sea-worthy packaging; palletize where possible; label with consignee, destination, and HS code. Cargo insurance is strongly advised on this lane given the transit distance; we arrange all-risk coverage on request.
Most Turkey-US shipments move on FOB (buyer controls main freight) or EXW (buyer controls everything from the Turkish factory). For door-to-door certainty, DAP or DDP put the forwarder in control end to end. We advise the Incoterm that fits your risk and cost split.
Machinery and vehicles, iron and steel, stone (marble, travertine, granite), carpets and home textiles, apparel, food (hazelnuts, dried apricots, olive oil), and jewelry.
Look for a forwarder with a dedicated Turkey-US desk, in-house ISF and HTS expertise, USD billing, and a single point of contact across ocean, air, and customs. Avoid stitching together a Turkish carrier and a US broker separately; a freight forwarder under one contract removes the gaps where cargo and accountability fall through.
Interworld Freight, headquartered in Miami, runs the Turkey-US lane both ways with ocean, air, road, ISF filing, and US customs clearance under one contract, coordinated by our dedicated Turkey desk. Book the lane on our freight forwarding from Turkey to the USA page, or see the reverse direction, shipping from the USA to Turkey.
Ocean FCL runs about $2,200–$4,750 per container, ocean LCL about $90–$160 per CBM, and air freight $4–$8 per kg. US duty (by HTS), MPF, HMF, and handling are added at clearance. Request an itemized USD quote.
Ocean to the US East Coast is about 16–26 days from Ambarlı or Mersin, the West Coast 30–40 days, plus 2–5 days for customs. Air freight from Istanbul is 1–3 days.
LCL ocean freight for shipments under about 15 CBM, FCL once you fill most of a container. Air is fastest but most expensive.
Yes. The ISF "10+2" must reach CBP at least 24 hours before the cargo loads in Turkey; late filing is penalized. We file it for you.
Possibly. Turkey lost US GSP in 2019, so MFN duties apply, and Section 232 plus AD/CVD orders can hit certain steel and aluminum. Confirm your HTS code first.
Mainly New York/Newark, Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, and Houston by ocean, and JFK, MIA, and ORD by air. West Coast via Los Angeles/Long Beach is available with longer transit.
Yes. Under DAP or DDP we manage origin pickup, freight, US customs, and final delivery on one contract.
Yes. See our guide on shipping from the USA to Turkey and the USA to Turkey forwarding service.