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Turkey manufacturers and nearshoring for UK businesses

Turkey sits between Europe and Asia and is one of the main near-shore manufacturing options for UK buyers. This guide covers the sectors where Turkey manufacturers are strong, the trade rules, and when nearshoring makes more sense than sourcing from Asia.

By Matt Buckley

Where Turkey manufacturers are strong

  • Apparel, denim and home textiles
  • Metal products, machinery parts and automotive components
  • Ceramics, glass and building products
  • Furniture and white goods
  • Food products

Trade rules

The UK-Turkey trade agreement took effect on 1 January 2021 and keeps preferential access for many goods that meet origin rules. Check the commodity code and preference rate on the UK Global Tariff.

Why nearshoring to Turkey

  • Shorter transit by road or sea than Asia
  • Smaller minimum orders and faster repeat runs
  • Less stock tied up in transit
  • Easier travel for visits and audits

The trade-off is usually a higher unit price. Whether it pays depends on landed cost, stock holding and the cost of slow response. See nearshoring vs offshoring.

How Caventis helps

Our offshore sourcing service compares near-shore and Asian options on total cost and finds vetted Turkey manufacturers.

Frequently asked questions

Is manufacturing in Turkey cheaper than the UK?

For many labour-intensive categories, yes. It is usually more expensive per unit than China but faster and more flexible.

Does the UK have a trade agreement with Turkey?

Yes. The UK-Turkey trade agreement has applied since 1 January 2021, subject to rules of origin.

References

Every figure cited above is drawn from the independent sources below. Numbers in square brackets in the text link to the matching source.

  1. UK trade agreements with non-EU countries — GOV.UK
  2. Check your goods meet the rules of origin — GOV.UK
  3. Look up commodity codes, duty and VAT rates — GOV.UK

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