Canned Tuna Supplier
for Turkey

Mersin Port is the primary entry point for canned tuna imports from Southeast Asia and the Middle East — it handles the highest volume of food FCL traffic, has the most direct routing via the Suez Canal, and is home to Turkey’s largest food trading and re-export companies. Istanbul’s Ambarlı or Haydarpaşa terminals are more practical for buyers distributing primarily to Istanbul and the Marmara region. İzmir serves western Aegean Turkey. For re-export buyers targeting Central Asia and the Balkans, Istanbul is typically preferred for the wider logistics network it connects to.

Turkey’s KKGM requires a food import notification (Gıda İthalat Bildirimi), a health certificate from the competent authority of the exporting country, a halal certificate from a recognised certifying body, a certificate of origin, a commercial invoice, a packing list, and a bill of lading. A technical data sheet for product classification may also be required. Physical and laboratory inspection may be conducted at the port. We prepare the full document set for every Turkey shipment.

Turkish buyers strongly prefer GIMDES (Gıda ve İhtiyaç Maddeleri Denetleme ve Sertifikasyon) or Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı certification — the two main Turkish halal bodies — or internationally recognised bodies that GIMDES accepts as equivalent. Our halal certification is from an internationally recognised body that is accepted for Turkish market import purposes. For buyers with specific GIMDES requirements, we can advise on the certification documentation structure.

Many Turkish food importers affix Turkish-language labels at their own warehouses after port clearance rather than requiring pre-labelled production from the factory. This is a common and accepted practice under Turkish customs and food regulations. We supply complete Turkish-language label artwork files for self-affixing, or we can pre-print and affix labels in the production facility before shipment if the buyer prefers a ready-to-retail pallet — whichever approach suits the buyer’s operation.

Yes. Istanbul-based food traders building Turkish-brand canned tuna for Central Asian markets — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan — are a growing buyer segment. We produce private label and OEM canned tuna with Turkish-language labels, Russian-language bilingual labels, or custom Central Asia market label formats. Halal certification can be structured for both Turkish and Central Asian halal authority acceptance. Production minimum quantities are calibrated for re-export volume buyers.

Turkey applies its own tariff schedule to canned tuna imports, which falls under HS code 1604.14 (prepared or preserved tuna). The applicable duty rate depends on the country of origin and the specific product classification. Turkey’s import duty system is managed by the Ministry of Trade and varies by origin under applicable free trade agreements. Turkish food importers are experienced in managing duty calculations for canned seafood imports and typically factor the applicable duty rate into their landed cost pricing when requesting supplier quotations.

Turkey’s food regulation requires imported canned food to have a sufficient remaining shelf life at the time of customs clearance. For commercial distribution, Turkish food importers typically expect a minimum of 18 months remaining shelf life on arrival. Our standard production achieves 36 months from the production date, which gives Turkey buyers at least 14–18 months of remaining life after the 18–22 day transit and customs clearance period — well within the practical distribution window for Turkish retail and wholesale.

Transit time from our production facility to Mersin Port is 18 to 22 days via the Suez Canal route — the most direct path from Southeast Asian origins to the Eastern Mediterranean. Istanbul Ambarlı adds approximately 2 to 3 days for the Bosphorus and Dardanelles routing. Production lead time from confirmed purchase order is 4 to 6 weeks. We can advise on current vessel schedules and estimated arrival windows for each shipment.