Sea and air freight from Turkey to Ghana
Full container (FCL). A 20ft or 40ft container loaded at your supplier and shipped from Ambarli in Istanbul, Mersin on the south coast, or Izmir on the Aegean. Your supplier's location usually decides the port: Istanbul for textiles and much general cargo, Mersin for goods from southern and central Turkey, Izmir for the Aegean industrial region.
Shared container (LCL). Cartons and pallets consolidated with other shippers, ideal for a first order or a mix of small suppliers. See FCL vs LCL shipping.
Air freight. From Istanbul to Accra International Airport, for samples, fashion stock, spare parts and urgent orders. Charged by actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher.
What Ghanaian importers ship from Turkey
- Textiles and clothing. Fabrics, ready-made garments and home textiles. Accurate descriptions and quantities per style matter, as customs checks these closely.
- Furniture. Home and office furniture is bulky and light, so it usually ships in a full container. Good packing protects it on the voyage and the road leg.
- Building materials. Tiles, sanitary ware, doors, fittings and steel products. Some products fall under Ghana Standards Authority requirements, so check before you order.
- Machinery. Industrial and food processing equipment. Large or heavy units may need special containers such as flat racks or open tops.
- Food. Pasta, flour, confectionery, oils and similar products need FDA approval before customs will release them, and the products should be registered before they ship.
How a Turkey shipment works with us
- Send the supplier details, the proforma or commercial invoice and the cargo size.
- We quote freight, clearance and delivery together, and check whether the goods need permits in Ghana.
- We arrange collection at origin through our agents and confirm the bill of lading.
- The supplier handles the Turkish export declaration, and we make sure the documents match what Ghana Customs will expect.
- We lodge the declaration in ICUMS before arrival so clearance starts when the vessel discharges.
- We deliver to your premises in Accra, Kumasi or anywhere else in Ghana.
Documents for cargo from Turkey to Ghana
- Commercial invoice with a full description of each item, quantities, unit prices and the currency. "Textiles" or "furniture" alone is not enough for classification.
- Packing list with weights, volumes and package counts that match the invoice.
- Bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air), naming you as consignee.
- Importer identification: your TIN or Ghana Card number.
- Certificate of origin, useful for customs and sometimes asked for.
- Permits for regulated goods, such as FDA approval for food and GSA conformity for products under mandatory standards.
Ask your Turkish supplier to send drafts before the goods are loaded. Correcting an invoice before departure takes a day; correcting it after the declaration is lodged can hold a container at Tema for much longer. The full list is in our import documents checklist.
How long it takes and what drives the cost
By sea, plan for about 25 to 40 days from a Turkish port to Tema, depending on the shipping line and transhipment, plus time for collection and clearance. By air, about 2 to 5 days.
The total cost of shipping from Turkey to Ghana combines origin collection and charges, ocean or air freight, Ghana import duty and taxes, and local charges at Tema. Duty depends on the HS code of each product, with bands of 0, 5, 10, 20 or 35 percent, so finished goods such as furniture and clothing often pay more than raw materials or machinery. Estimate it with the import duty calculator and read Ghana import duty explained.
Clearance at Tema and delivery across Ghana
As licensed customs brokers we handle the declaration, permits, duty payment and examination, then truck the goods to your door. We track each container's free days so storage and demurrage do not build up, and you can follow progress on our tracking page. Read how our clearing service at Tema works.
Questions
How long does shipping from Turkey to Ghana take?
By sea, about 25 to 40 days port to port from Istanbul, Mersin or Izmir, depending on the shipping line and transhipment. Add time for collection in Turkey and clearance at Tema. Air freight from Istanbul usually takes about 2 to 5 days.
How much does shipping from Turkey to Ghana cost?
It depends on the volume or weight, the port of loading, sea or air, and the type of goods, which sets the duty band in Ghana. Send your cargo details through our quote form for a price covering freight, clearance and delivery.
Can I combine goods from several Turkish suppliers in one container?
Yes. The goods can be collected or received at an origin warehouse and loaded together, with documents prepared so the shipment clears as one consignment in Ghana.
Do Turkish food products need an FDA permit in Ghana?
Yes. Food, drinks and similar products need FDA approval, and the products should be registered with the FDA before they ship. Unregistered food is the main cause of FDA holds at Tema.
Which documents do I need?
A commercial invoice and packing list from the supplier, the bill of lading or air waybill, your TIN or Ghana Card number, and any permits for regulated goods. A certificate of origin is also useful to have.
Do you deliver door to door from Turkey?
Yes. We arrange collection at origin, the freight, clearance at Tema or Accra airport and delivery to any address in Ghana.
Talk to our operations desk.
Send your documents or cargo details and we will reply with a full quote: freight, clearance and delivery on one page.