From our home base in Türkiye, we manage our entire international operational network from a single point.
Türkiye is not a third country like any other: since 1996 it has been linked to the European Union by a customs union covering industrial products and processed agricultural goods. Within that scope goods circulate free of customs duty, and the document that proves it is the A.TR movement certificate. This is the point that causes most confusion, because A.TR is not a certificate of origin: it attests free circulation, not where the goods come from.
| A.TR certificate | EUR.1 certificate | |
|---|---|---|
| What it proves | That the goods are in free circulation in the customs union | The preferential origin of the goods |
| Scope | Industrial and processed agricultural products | Agricultural, coal and steel products, and preferential regimes with third countries |
| Effect | Duty exemption within the customs union | The preferential rate under the applicable agreement |
| Origin of the goods | Irrelevant | Decisive |
| Typical error | Treating it as proof of origin | Issuing it for goods that do not meet the origin rules |
An example makes the difference clear. A machine manufactured in Asia, imported and released for free circulation in Türkiye, can travel to the European Union under A.TR without duty, even though it is not of Turkish origin. If that same machine then has to continue to a third country with which Türkiye has a preferential agreement, A.TR is of no use: there, origin is what counts, and the correct proof is needed.
Trade defence measures — anti-dumping and countervailing duties — remain outside the exemption and are applied by reference to origin even where goods circulate under A.TR.
A substantial part of Turkish export production works under inward processing: raw materials and semi-finished goods enter with duty suspended, are transformed, and leave as finished products. For a buyer sourcing in Türkiye this has a practical consequence: the supplier’s regime determines which documents it can issue on export.
It is worth checking before the order rather than at delivery. A supplier operating under inward processing may not be able to issue the proof of origin you need for the final destination.
It is the document attesting that goods are in free circulation within the customs union between the European Union and Türkiye, allowing them to move duty free within the scope covered by that union. It is not a certificate of origin.
Industrial products and processed agricultural goods. Basic agricultural products and coal and steel products fall outside it, and different agreements and documents apply to them, in particular EUR.1.
Whenever preferential origin matters: products outside the scope of the customs union, or shipments to third countries linked by preferential agreements. In some cases both documents are needed, for different purposes.
No customs duty is payable within the scope of the customs union, but import VAT remains due, as do any trade defence measures such as anti-dumping duties, which are applied by reference to the origin of the goods.
It allows raw materials and semi-finished goods to be imported with duty suspended, transformed and re-exported. It is widespread in Turkish export production and shapes which documents a supplier can issue.
It depends on volume and the date required. Road is faster and suits split consignments; sea costs less on full volumes and long-haul lanes. When the difference is narrow we show both options rather than quoting only the one requested.
Yes, under ADR by road and IMDG by sea, with approved packaging and compliant documentation. Assessment starts from the safety data sheet, the UN number and the class.
Pickup and delivery locations, tariff code, dimensions, weight and number of packages, nature of the goods and the Incoterms rule. Tell us the final destination as well if the goods continue beyond Europe: it changes which documents should be issued at departure.
Tell us where the goods end up, not only where they are going next. The document to be issued at departure follows from the final destination, and correcting it later costs full duty on every shipment already made.
Domestic and international groupage and full load services.\r\nSea Freight
Share your pickup point and cargo details and we will come back shortly with a clear quote.