Most Turkish apparel ships FOB Istanbul (buyer controls freight) or DAP destination (factory delivers to door). Avoid CIF unless you have a trusted forwarder; DDP includes destination duties.
- FOB
- Buyer pays from port
- CIF
- Factory arranges sea freight
- DAP
- Factory delivers door, buyer customs
- DDP
- Factory delivers door, duties included
FOB Istanbul: the default
FOB Istanbul means the factory delivers to the named port (usually Ambarli for sea or Istanbul Airport for air) and the buyer takes responsibility from there. Buyer controls forwarder, freight cost, insurance and arrival timing.
Use FOB when you have an existing forwarder relationship or want to consolidate freight across multiple suppliers. Most experienced buyers prefer FOB for transparency.
CIF and CFR
CIF means factory arranges sea freight and insurance to destination port. CFR is the same without insurance. Less transparent than FOB; factory may add 5-15% markup on freight.
Use CIF only when you have no forwarder relationship and need turn-key shipping. Always request the freight quote separately to verify markup.
DAP and DDP
DAP delivers to the buyer’s door but the buyer handles import customs and duties. DDP includes duties; the factory becomes the importer of record. Most Turkish factories quote DAP but few quote DDP because of regulatory complexity.
DDP is useful for small DTC brands without import licences. For large brands with EORI and customs broker relationships, DAP gives more cost control.
Road via Kapikule
For EU buyers, road freight via Kapikule (Bulgaria border) is faster than sea: 5-9 days to Germany, 7-11 to France. Most factories quote DAP destination via curtain-side trucks.
Road suits 1-3 pallet shipments. For full container loads (FCL), sea is more economical for distances beyond Germany.
Air freight terms
Air freight is typically CPT or DAP destination airport. Door-to-door services (FedEx, DHL, UPS) operate effectively DDP for small parcels.
Use air for samples, time-sensitive drops, and orders under 100 kg. Above 500 kg, air becomes prohibitively expensive vs road or sea.
Practical defaults
For European retailers: DAP via road freight. For US and Far East buyers: FOB sea. For Gulf buyers: FOB sea (Jebel Ali) or air (sample tier). For African buyers: usually FOB sea with consolidation in Hamburg or Antwerp.
Always confirm Incoterm version in the contract (Incoterms 2020 or 2026 update). Differences are small but matter for insurance handover points.