How to Order Wholesale Goods from Turkey

Turkey is considered the European capital of budget textiles. Many companies not only purchase ready-made goods but also order clothing and footwear with branding. Therefore, today, DiFFreight experts share information about importing from Turkey: how to find suppliers, what to pay attention to, and how to deliver the products to Ukraine.

How to Order Items from Turkey Wholesale

Of course, wholesale is the most profitable for business, so we only consider this format.

Step 1: Finding a Supplier

The first step in how to order clothing from Turkey wholesale is to find a factory or wholesaler. What are the options:

• B2B platforms: TurkishExporter, TradeTurkey, and even Alibaba can have Turkish sellers.
• Large wholesale markets. It’s better to visit them in person to see the products firsthand. In Istanbul, Gedikpaşa is one of the main footwear markets, Zeytinburnu is the leather footwear and clothing manufacturing center, and Laleli is the main wholesale market.
• Exhibitions. You’ll need to register in advance, plus the largest events don’t happen consecutively. This means either flying to Turkey regularly or staying for a few months. What exhibitions are worth visiting? They are AYMOD (footwear), Texinist (textiles), and Istanbul Fashion Connection (clothing and leather goods).

You can also find an intermediary offering ready-made catalogs of footwear and items from factories.

Step 2: Negotiations and Signing a Contract

Communicate with factory representatives via WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. Many run social media pages offering B2B products. Usually, Turkish partners speak English well, so there are no issues.

The contract is drawn up in two languages — Turkish and English. Be sure to include the following points:

• Parties' details: legal names, addresses, contact details.
• Product description: materials, sizes, quality, packaging.
• Quantity and price: units of measurement, currency, discounts.
• Production times: when production begins and ends.
• Payment terms: prepayment, partial payment, letter of credit.
• Delivery and logistics: who is responsible for transport insurance.
• Guarantees and responsibility: what to do in case of defects or delays.
• Dispute resolution: which court will handle disputes (usually Turkey).

Before placing a large order (this is how most suppliers operate), request sample products. Carefully check the quality, study the factory through the Turkish company registry (MERSIS), and read reviews from other clients.

Step 3: Payment

Another advantage of Turkey is simple payments. Inside the country, SWIFT, electronic payment systems like Western Union, MoneyGram, and Payoneer work. Confirm payment methods with your specific supplier. For orders over $10,000, letters of credit (L/C) are used. The money is held in a bank and transferred to the factory only after the conditions are met (e.g., shipment of goods).

Step 4: Shipping Goods from Turkey to Ukraine

So, now that you know how to order clothing wholesale from Turkey, how do you get it to your warehouse? Delivery terms (Incoterms 2020) define who is responsible for shipping:

• FOB (Free on Board) — The seller delivers the goods to the port. After that, they are not responsible for the goods.
• CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) — The seller is responsible for transporting goods to the destination port, paying freight, and arranging insurance. Once the shipment reaches the final port, responsibility shifts to the buyer.
• DAP (Delivered At Place) — Delivery to the buyer’s door, meaning the entire transport process from the seller to the client.

Since Turkey’s export sector is highly developed, various shipping methods are available:

• Sea Freight. Cheap but slow. Ideal for large wholesale orders; you can either buy space or book an entire container.
• Air Freight. Very fast but expensive. Suitable for regular small shipments with high margins.
• Road Freight. Moderate speed and cost. Suitable for medium (shared truck space) and large (entire truckload) wholesale orders.

Keep in mind that customs clearance is the seller’s responsibility. We recommend either opting for a full-service delivery (with documentation handling) or using customs brokerage services.

A broker handles the customs clearance documentation so you can prepay duties and taxes. This way, the cargo clears customs within hours. DiFFreight offers brokerage services both as part of full delivery and as a separate service.

Possible Problems When Working with Turkish Suppliers

Some challenges include:

• With direct cooperation, there are no retail or small wholesale options. Factories are mostly interested in clients who buy goods worth $15-20 thousand. This comes with some drawbacks. The first is limited assortment. The second is a significant investment in one supplier.
• Certification and Factory Verification. Every entrepreneur wants quality fabrics, modern stitching, and adherence to technology. But not all factories will gladly allow you to visit the production. Most likely, if your order is small by their standards, you’ll be redirected to wholesalers.
• Logistics of Goods from Different Manufacturers/Sellers. It’s best to consolidate goods before shipping, and for this, you’ll need a partner with their own warehouse or a space in Turkey.

You must always think not only about how to buy clothing wholesale from Turkey but also how to deliver it efficiently and safely.

Delivery from Turkey

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Shipping Goods from Turkey — DiFFreight Services

Want to establish regular shipments or purchase trending clothing? Our company will deliver your cargo quickly and reliably to your warehouse. We offer road transportation from Istanbul to Kyiv starting at €400/pallet. Delivery times range from 5 to 10 days.

Formats include:

• FTL (Full Truckload — all products from one client) is ideal for large orders.
• LTL (Less Than Truckload — shared transportation with goods from multiple clients) is a great option for small and medium-sized shipments.

Fabrics, technology, easy payments, and a large selection are the main benefits of importing from Turkey. However, it’s not without challenges. But if you’re ready to work with Turkish suppliers, we invite you to consult with DiFFreight. We’ll be your logistics partner and deliver clothing, footwear, and other goods efficiently, quickly, and affordably!