Why a supplier is writing this guide
Search for this topic and you will mostly find customs brokers and consultancies — the people selling you the process. We are on the other side: we run it every month and we know where it stalls. What follows is the order of an actual shipment.
Step 1 — Importer registration, before the first shipment
Register in the electronic system of the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and obtain your registration number. This is a precondition for importing plant products and must be completed before the first lot. It cannot be done retroactively — trying to open a registration while cargo sits at the port is the single most common cause of delay.
Legal basis: the Plant Quarantine Regulation (Official Gazette, 3 December 2011, No. 28131).
Step 2 — Contract and classification
Fix the following in the contract: HS 4408.90, species (Betula), grade (mixed 1–4), format, thickness, moisture range (5–8%), Incoterms (CIF Ambarlı / Gemlik / Mersin), currency (USD or EUR) and payment terms.
Do not leave the classification vague: sanded, end-jointed or differently dimensioned sub-headings can attract a different rate.
Step 3 — Set up the payment channel first
This is where the process fails most often. Turkey has not aligned with sanctions, but Turkish banks apply strict compliance because of secondary-sanctions exposure. The result is a country that permits the trade and banks that are reluctant to process it.
What works in practice is a transfer in USD or EUR through a payment agent, taking anywhere from ten minutes to three business days. Direct SWIFT is possible at some banks but means 7–15 days and a high minimum fee. Letters of credit do not work in practice, because a confirming bank for a Russian beneficiary is hard to find.
Step 4 — Shipment and advance notification
| Route | USD/m³ | Days | Minimum lot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rail 40'HC → Novorossiysk → AmbarlıRecommended | 90–120 | 22–32 | 1 container |
| Rail 40'HC → Novorossiysk → Gemlik / IzmirRecommended | 105–140 | 25–35 | 1 container |
| Boxcar → Azov, river-seaLarge lot only | 55–85 | 25–40 | 2,000–3,000 m³ |
| Breakbulk shipment from NovorossiyskLarge lot only | 60–90 | 20–30 | 3,000+ m³ |
| Railcar → Apsheronsk → 3 trucksFast / urgent | 170–255 | 15–25 | 1 railcar (102 m³) |
| Direct truck (via Verkhny Lars)Fast / urgent | 210–305 | 12–20 | 1 truck |
Once the cargo is under way, file the advance notification: at least 24 hours before arrival by sea, 12 hours by road.
Documents to collect from the exporter at dispatch: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading (or CMR), the original phytosanitary certificate, and the certificate of origin.
Step 5 — Customs and inspection
The process runs through the Single Window System in three stages: document check, declaration check and phytosanitary inspection. Where inspection cannot be carried out at the border crossing, a plant health certificate is issued allowing the sealed consignment to move to an accredited site under customs supervision.
| Charge | Rate | Base |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty | most likely 0% | CIF |
| VAT (KDV) | 20% | CIF + duty |
| KKDF | 6%, deferred payment only | transferred amount |
| Additional Customs Duty | to be verified | CIF |
| ÖTV, TRT levy | not applicable | — |
Step 6 — Acceptance
When the container is opened, check that straps are intact, desiccant bags are in place, there is no sign of condensation under the wrap, and edges are not crushed. Measure moisture with your own meter and compare it against the packing list.
We suggest doing this together on the first lot: we show you what to look at, and you measure us. From the second shipment it becomes routine.
Three common mistakes
Leaving importer registration until later. It cannot be opened while cargo is at the port, and the process restarts from the beginning.
Looking for a payment channel after shipment. Goods have arrived, money will not move — the most expensive scenario there is.
Booking a 20-foot container. Veneer is light and bulky: a 20-footer takes 15 m³ and wastes 65% of the payload. Always use a 40’HC.