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Istanbul Africa Trade Company

For Turkish exporters

Export from Turkey to Africa: the right market, serious buyers, safe payment

Istanbul Africa advises Turkish manufacturers and exporters who want to sell into Africa. We help you choose the markets where your product can win, find and check serious buyers and distributors, and structure payment, Incoterms and documents so your first shipments arrive, clear and get paid. Our country profiles and route guides cover the markets most Turkish exporters ask about.

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  • Market choice based on data, not trade-fair luck
  • Buyer checks before you ship
  • Advice in Turkish, English and French

Who we help

  • Manufacturers opening their first African market
  • Exporters with a few African buyers who want a real distributor network
  • Building materials, energy and infrastructure suppliers looking at African projects
  • Companies that want more from trade fairs and trade missions
  • Export managers who need a second opinion on an African buyer or contract

Why Africa, and why now?

Africa is not one market but more than fifty, with fast-growing cities, large construction pipelines and consumers who already know Turkish brands. The opportunity is real; so is the cost of choosing the wrong country or the wrong partner.

  • Demand Turkey can meet

    Building materials, steel, machinery, furniture, textiles, food and household goods are among the product groups Turkey already exports to African markets.

  • Price and quality fit

    Turkish goods often sit in the space African buyers want: better quality than the cheapest imports, at prices below European suppliers.

  • Regional gateways

    Hubs such as Lagos, Accra, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Casablanca and Dakar give access to wider regional markets and trade blocs.

  • Two languages of business

    Much of the continent buys in English, a large part in French. Working in the buyer's language is a competitive advantage in itself.

The risks we take off the table

Exporters rarely fail on the product. They fail on market choice, partner choice and payment. That is where our work sits.

  1. Choosing the wrong market

    We compare markets on demand, competition, duties, documentary requirements and payment habits before you spend on a trip or a fair.

  2. Buyers who are not serious

    We check that a buyer or distributor is registered, active and trading in your category, and that its references hold up.

  3. Not getting paid

    We help you structure payment to the risk: advance or partial payment, documentary collection, letters of credit, and export credit insurance such as Türk Eximbank's.

  4. Documents and conformity

    Several African countries run pre-shipment conformity programmes, such as SONCAP in Nigeria and PVoC in Kenya. We help you prepare for them before the goods are packed.

  5. Distance and communication

    We bridge language and business culture, in English and French, so expectations on price, quality and timing are written down, not assumed.

How it works

From first conversation to repeat orders, in five steps.

  1. Initial review

    Your product, capacity, certifications, price position and goals.

  2. Market priorities

    Two or three African markets ranked by fit, with the reasons.

  3. Buyer search and checks

    A list of potential buyers and distributors, checked before introduction.

  4. Introductions and terms

    Support with offers, Incoterms, payment structure and contract points.

  5. First shipment and beyond

    Document checks for the first orders and help building a lasting partnership.

What we do for exporters

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Burak Unal

Who you work with

Burak Unal

Founder, Istanbul Africa

Istanbul Africa is Burak Unal's advisory practice. He leads its client work and reviews its country and sector research.

  • Former financial services consultant at Oliver Wyman
  • MSc Finance, London School of Economics
  • BSc Management, Boğaziçi University
  • Chevening Scholar
  • LSE thesis on Kenya's textile industry and its effect on the balance of trade

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Sectors where Turkish exporters compete

All sectors

Each sector page explains demand, competition and what buyers expect.

African markets we cover

All country profiles

Country profiles with trade data, import partners and top products for 20 African markets.

Step-by-step export guides by country

Guides for exporters

All articles

Questions exporters ask

Do you guarantee that you will find a buyer?
No, and you should be wary of anyone who does. We guarantee the work: a reasoned market choice, a checked list of potential buyers and distributors, and support through introductions and terms. Whether a deal closes depends on your product, price and the buyer.
Which African market should I start with?
It depends on your product, price position and capacity. For many Turkish exporters the first candidates are large, well-connected markets such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt or Morocco, but the right answer comes from comparing demand, competition, duties and payment practice for your specific product.
How do I manage payment risk in Africa?
Start with structures that protect you while trust is built: advance or partial payment, documentary collection or a letter of credit, and consider export credit insurance. Increase open-account terms only as a buyer's track record grows.
Are trade fairs and trade missions enough?
They are useful for meeting people, but they work best when you arrive with a short list of checked targets and leave with a follow-up plan. We help you prepare both.
Can state export support cover some of the cost?
Turkey's Ministry of Trade runs export support programmes that can cover part of the cost of activities such as market research and trade fair participation. Conditions change, so confirm the current rules with the Ministry or your exporters' association before you budget.
Which languages do you work in?
Turkish, English and French. French matters: a large part of Africa, from Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire to Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, does business in French.

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