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Istanbul Africa Trade Company

For African importers

Import from Turkey to Africa, with an advisor on your side

Istanbul Africa helps African distributors, contractors, retailers and procurement teams buy from Turkey safely. From Istanbul, we identify Turkish manufacturers that fit your product and budget, check that they are real and capable, compare quotations like for like, and help you agree specifications, documents and payment terms before any money moves. We advise; the contract and the relationship stay yours.

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  • Independent: we do not sell the goods
  • We speak to factories in Turkish
  • Advice in English, French and Turkish

Who we help

  • Distributors and wholesalers adding Turkish product lines
  • Contractors and developers buying building materials, steel and equipment
  • Retailers and brand owners sourcing textiles, furniture, home goods or food
  • Procurement teams that want a second opinion on a Turkish quotation
  • First-time importers who want their first order to be a safe one

Why buy from Turkey?

Turkey sits between Europe, the Middle East and Africa and has one of the broadest manufacturing bases in the region. For many African buyers it offers a practical middle ground between European prices and long-haul Asian lead times.

  • Breadth of manufacturing

    Textiles and apparel, building materials, steel, machinery, furniture, home appliances, packaging, chemicals and processed food are all made at scale.

  • Shorter routes

    Ports such as Mersin, Istanbul (Ambarlı) and İzmir ship to North, West and East Africa, often with shorter transit than Asian origins.

  • Familiar standards

    Turkey's customs union with the European Union means many manufacturers already produce to European standards and certification.

  • Flexible factories

    Many Turkish producers are mid-sized family companies that will discuss specifications, private label and order sizes directly.

The risks we take off the table

Most first orders that go wrong fail in one of five places. Our work is built around closing each of them before you commit.

  1. Suppliers that are not what they seem

    We check that a company is registered and active, that it makes what it sells rather than reselling it, and that its references and trade history hold up.

  2. Goods that do not match the sample

    Specifications are agreed in writing, samples are approved against them, and we help you arrange an independent pre-shipment inspection.

  3. Payment risk

    We help you choose a payment structure that fits the risk, such as a letter of credit or staged payments, and to confirm bank details directly with the manufacturer.

  4. Documents that fail at your port

    We align the supplier's documents with your country's requirements before shipment: invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and any conformity certificate.

  5. Hidden costs

    We talk landed cost from the start: the Incoterm, freight, insurance, duties and local charges, so the cheapest quotation is not the most expensive delivery.

How it works

A clear sequence, so you know what happens next and what it depends on.

  1. Brief

    You tell us the product, specifications, quantity, target price and destination.

  2. Shortlist

    We identify and pre-qualify Turkish manufacturers that fit the brief.

  3. Check and compare

    Company checks, samples and quotations compared like for like.

  4. Agree terms

    Specifications, Incoterm, payment structure, documents and timeline in writing.

  5. Follow through

    We stay in touch with the factory and help coordinate inspection and documents until the goods leave Turkey.

What we do for importers

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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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What African buyers source from Turkey

All sectors

Our sector pages explain each market: what sells, who makes it and what to watch.

Markets we cover

All country profiles

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

Trade route guides by country

Guides for importers

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Questions importers ask

Do you sell the products yourselves?
No. We are an advisory practice. We identify and check Turkish manufacturers, and you buy directly from the manufacturer under a contract between you and them. That keeps prices transparent and the supplier relationship yours.
Can you check a Turkish supplier I have already found?
Yes. Send us the company name, its website and the quotation or pro-forma invoice. We check whether the company is real and active, whether it makes what it sells, and whether the terms are normal for the product, and we tell you what to clarify before you pay.
How do I pay a Turkish supplier safely?
Match the payment method to the risk. For a first order with a new supplier, a letter of credit or staged payments released against inspection limit your exposure. Always confirm bank details by telephone with the supplier, and never pay into an account that differs from the contract.
Do you handle shipping and customs clearance?
No. Freight forwarders and customs brokers do that work. We help you brief them, check that the documents match your country's requirements, and keep the factory and the forwarder aligned.
Is there a minimum order?
There is no minimum for our advice. Manufacturers set their own minimum order quantities. We tell you early when a quantity is too small for a factory, and what the alternatives are.
How long does an order from Turkey take?
It depends on the product and the route. Made-to-order goods usually need several weeks of production, and sea transit to West or East Africa adds several more, depending on the port and any transhipment. We give you a realistic timeline for your order before you commit.
Which languages do you work in?
English, French and Turkish. Speaking to a factory in Turkish often settles specifications and terms faster than going through a sales agent.

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