US Imports · Logistics Guide

Freight Forwarding from Turkey to the USA: What Knitwear Importers Need to Know

Turkey to the US East Coast is roughly 14–18 days by ocean freight. Here's how the routing works, what FCL vs LCL means for a knitwear order, and how to choose a forwarder.

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Knitwear manufactured in Gaziantep, Turkey ships to the United States through one of two main export ports: Mersin (MRS) on the Mediterranean coast, or Istanbul (IST/Ambarlı) on the European side. For Gaziantep-based production, Mersin is the natural choice — it's approximately 2.5 hours by truck and has direct container service to major US East Coast ports. Understanding the routing, timing, and cost structure helps you plan your production calendar and avoid the mistake that sinks seasonal knitwear brands: ordering too late to meet the retail floor date.

Ocean Freight: Routes and Realistic Transit Times

East Coast

Mersin → New York / NJ, Savannah, Charleston

Transit: approximately 14–18 days vessel-only via Mediterranean–Atlantic routes. Add 3–5 days for port processing, customs hold buffer, and drayage to your final destination. Total door-to-door: plan for 20–25 days from Mersin port departure to your warehouse.

West Coast

Mersin → Los Angeles, Long Beach, Seattle

Transit: approximately 28–35 days depending on routing (Suez Canal, Panama Canal, or transpacific connection). Longer and more complex than East Coast. If your warehouse is on the West Coast, East Coast port + intermodal rail may sometimes be faster than direct West Coast arrival.

Gulf Coast

Mersin → Houston, New Orleans

Transit: approximately 18–24 days. Fewer direct sailings than East Coast; may require a transshipment via a European hub (Algeciras, Gioia Tauro). Useful for brands distributing into the southern US.

Important

These Are Vessel-Only Transit Times

Actual schedule depends on the specific carrier, sailing schedule, and whether your cargo transships through a hub port. Port congestion (particularly at LAX/LB) can add 5–15+ days during peak season. Build buffer — never plan for best-case transit when your delivery has a retail floor date.

FCL vs LCL: Which Suits Your Knitwear Order?

FCL

Full Container Load — From ~400+ cartons

You book an entire 20' or 40' container. Your cargo is the only cargo inside — so there's no consolidation at origin or deconsolidation at destination. FCL is faster and lower-risk for cargo damage, and it's typically cheaper per CBM above a certain volume. For knitwear: a 40' container holds approximately 2,000–4,000+ sweaters depending on packaging. Most growing brands graduate to FCL once they're placing orders above roughly 1,500–2,000 units per shipment.

LCL

Less than Container Load — Consolidated Cargo

Your cargo is consolidated with other shippers' goods in a shared container at the origin CFS (Container Freight Station). LCL is the right choice for smaller knitwear orders — under ~10–15 CBM. It's more expensive per CBM than FCL, and transit time is slightly longer (add 3–5 days for consolidation/deconsolidation). But it makes ocean freight viable for test orders and smaller brands that aren't filling a full container.

Air Freight: Fast but Expensive

Air freight from Istanbul or Ankara to major US airports (JFK, LAX, ORD) runs approximately 5–7 days door-to-door. It's dramatically more expensive than ocean freight — typically 4–8x the cost per kilogram. For knitwear (relatively light but bulky), air freight is rarely cost-effective for standard commercial orders.

Knitwear export documentation — Turkey to USA, Kiwi Giyim — Packing and export documentation: commercial invoice, packing list, and certificate of origin prepared for US import

Air freight makes sense for: sample shipments (proto and PP samples under 5kg), urgent top-up orders when a style sells out and you need to restock before the season ends, or first-time small test orders where you want rapid delivery to evaluate fit and quality before committing to ocean freight timing. For any order above ~50 units, the economics of ocean freight usually win even accounting for the additional 2–3 weeks of transit time.

Choosing a Freight Forwarder

Turkey–US Corridor Experience

Not every forwarder knows the Turkey–US routing well. Look for one with active relationships with carriers serving Mersin and Istanbul, and US-side agents at your destination port. Ask how many Turkey–US ocean shipments they handle per month.

US Customs Broker Network

A good forwarder either is a licensed US customs broker or has a closely integrated brokerage partner at your destination port. The ISF needs to be filed on your behalf by someone who handles the CBP relationship.

Apparel / Textile Sector Knowledge

Apparel has specific documentation requirements (fiber content cert, COO declaration, care label compliance). A forwarder that specializes in electronics may not know what to do when CBP requests a fiber content certificate at exam.

Transparent Quoting

Ask for an all-in landed cost quote that includes origin charges (THC, documentation), ocean freight, destination charges (CFS handling if LCL, port fees, drayage), customs entry filing, and duties. Freight quotes without destination charges are misleading.

Turkish Export Customs: What the Factory Handles

Under FOB terms, the Turkish factory (or their local freight agent) handles Turkish export customs formalities — export declaration (gümrük beyannamesi), export invoice registration, and truck delivery to the port CFS or pier. This is standard in Turkish manufacturing; the factory's logistics contact manages this routinely. You don't need to arrange anything on the Turkish side under FOB. Under EXW terms, you'd need a Turkish customs agent — which is why FOB is simpler for most US brands.

Planning Your First Knitwear Shipment from Turkey?

We ship from Mersin and can connect you with experienced Turkey–US forwarders if you don't already have one. Start with your tech pack and we'll give you a realistic timeline from sample to your warehouse door.

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