Because of its geographic location between Europe and Asia, Türkiye is a significant destination for shipping goods. In 2022, the trade volume between Türkiye and China was over 40 billion dollars, and the value of Türkiye’s imports of Chinese products exceeded 38 billion dollars. Türkiye imports mostly electrical equipment, machinery, organic chemicals, iron, steel, and plastic. Before ordering products from China and shipping from Shenzhen to Istanbul, check the possible routes.
Why are Shenzhen and Istanbul significant?
Shenzhen plays a significant role in Chinese international trade. In 1979, Shenzhen was established as a Special Economic Zone as one of the first cities in China. Since then, the city has grown quickly and has a population of over 12.5 million. Its economic importance also increased. In 2021 Shenzhen was China’s 3rd city by GDP and 1st in exporting goods (over 300 billion dollars). Shenzhen is the “electronics capital” of China, with around 90% of the world’s electronics being made here. The city’s production is focused on digital technologies, products, services, infrastructure, and solutions for digital development. Shenzhen is home to some of the world’s biggest electronic-based companies, such as Tencent, Huawei, BYD, and ZTE.
Istanbul is Türkiye’s biggest metropolis, with a population of over 15 million people. This city alone is responsible for around 57% of national exports and 60% of national imports. It is considered both “financial capital,” with 47 Turkish and international banks operating in the city, and the “industrial center” of Türkiye, employing 20% of Turkish industrial labor. Istanbul is conveniently located, connecting East and West. An airport, a seaport, and four free trade zones are located within the city. Because of it, Istanbul draws in international corporations, banks, and stores, and its global importance will only grow in the future.
Shipping from Shenzhen to Istanbul
Sea freight from Shenzhen to Istanbul
Sea freight is the best choice for bigger shipments. It is the cheapest and the most time–consuming option. It is also reliable, as it is not as dependent on weather conditions as air freight. Since both cities are located on the coastline, sea freight is a very convenient option.
How long does sea shipping from Shenzhen to Istanbul take?
The distance between Shenzhen and Istanbul by sea is around 8,430 nautical miles. It takes 20-40 days to transport goods from one city to the other.
The Port of Shenzhen is a collective name for ports located along the coastline of Shenzhen. Altogether it extends along 260 km of coastline and has 140 berths. It is one of China’s largest seaports. In 2021 Port of Shenzhen’s container throughput exceeded 28.7 million TEU. The Port of Shenzhen houses 40 shipping companies that offer 130 international shipping routes.
The Port of Haydarpaşa, also known as the Port of Istanbul, is Türkiye’s fourth biggest port, with annual cargo volume exceeding 60 million metric tons. It extends over 55 thousand square meters and has 2 piers with 21 berths and 5 major terminals. Its facilities include a container terminal, ro-ro terminal, rail ferry terminal, and general cargo handling equipment.
Air freight from Shenzhen to Istanbul
Air freight is the fastest and most suitable option for urgent or valuable shipments. However, it is also the most expensive transportation method and depends on weather conditions. In both cities, there are international airports that handle cargo aircraft.
How long does air freight from Shenzhen to Istanbul take?
It takes 2-7 days to transport goods from Shenzhen to Istanbul by cargo aircraft.
The Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport is one of China’s biggest airports. In 2018 it was 5th busiest airport in China by passenger traffic and 4th busiest by cargo traffic. Shenzhen Airport operates 15 cargo airlines.
The Istanbul International Airport houses 15 cargo airlines that offer transportation to 97 destinations. In 2021 it was the busiest airport in Europe by passenger traffic. In 2022, Turkish Cargo, one of the world’s biggest airlines, relocated all its operations here.
Rail freight from Shenzhen to Istanbul
Generally speaking, rail freight is the middle way; it is faster than sea freight and cheaper than air freight. However, as of now, there is no direct route between Shenzhen and Istanbul. To transport goods between these two cities by railway, the shipment would need to be transported to another major Chinese city with a railway connection to Istanbul, like Chengdu, Xi’an, or Lianyungang. This can be done either by train or truck, which adds transit time and costs.
Truck freight from Shenzhen to Istanbul
This option is faster than the railway and more flexible, as here it is possible to transport door–to–door. It will work well for smaller shipments. However, it depends on traffic conditions and, compared to other methods, is the least safe.
How long does rail freight from Shenzhen to Istanbul take?
The distance between the two cities is over 6,800 miles, and it can take up to 20 days to reach Istanbul from Shenzhen by truck.
How much does it cost to ship from Shenzhen to Istanbul?
Before deciding on shipping from Shenzhen to Istanbul, you should check what transportation options you have and what costs you should be prepared for. You can place shipping inquiries on ShipHub.co to get offers from reliable freight forwarders.
