An honest comparison for European brands weighing Turkey against Portugal and Italy — where Turkey wins on price and mid-range capacity, and where the EU hubs still lead.
Portugal and Italy are the established EU knitwear hubs — and for tiny couture runs or pure-cashmere luxury they still lead. But for mid-sized, design-led programmes, Turkey delivers comparable quality at roughly 30–50% lower cost, with 0% EU Customs Union duty and 5–7 day truck transit. Here is the honest breakdown.
| Factor | Turkey (Kiwi) | Portugal | Italy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sample lead time | 10–14 days | 5–7 days | 10–14 days |
| Bulk lead time | 45–60 days | 3–5 weeks | 6–8 weeks |
| FOB price index (TR=100) | 100 | ~130 | ~150 |
| Truck transit to Milan | 5–7 days | 4–5 days | 1–3 days |
| EU import duty | 0% (Customs Union) | 0% | 0% |
| Machines | Shima Seiki + Stoll | Shima / Stoll | Shima / Stoll |
| Best for | Mid-sized, design-led | Small couture <150 | Ultra-luxury cashmere |
Figures are indicative and vary by style, yarn and season.
For comparable mid-range knitwear, Turkey runs roughly 30% below Portugal and 50% below Italy — without the Asia trade-offs.
Turkey's EU Customs Union membership means 0% tariff and streamlined customs — the same duty position as sourcing inside the EU.
5–7 days by truck to Milan, 7–9 to Hamburg, ~6 to Rotterdam — quick replenishment without ocean lead times.
The same Shima Seiki and Stoll machines as top Italian workshops — technical parity, with founder-direct service.
We'll be straight: for very small couture runs (under ~150 units) Portugal's flexibility is hard to beat, and for ultra-luxury pure-cashmere programmes Italy's specialised expertise justifies its premium. For everything in the mid-range — fast-fashion to mid-premium, design-led, volume-flexible — Turkey is the sweet spot.
Send a tech pack or a brief. We respond within one business day with a capacity check, indicative pricing and a sample timeline.