Turkey's Temu Shopping: Facts to Consider Before Placing an Order
Temu's Customs Regulations and Compliance in Turkey
As of August 2024, Turkey has implemented new customs regulations for e-commerce platforms like Temu. The customs-free threshold has been reduced from €150 to €30, meaning any order exceeding €30, including shipping costs, is subject to customs duties.
For Temu orders in Turkey, products from non-EU countries, such as China, face a 60% customs duty rate on the declared value. This can significantly increase the cost beyond the purchase price once customs fees are applied. It's important to note that the €30 customs exemption applies per order, not cumulatively, and a maximum of five international orders per customer per month is allowed, each with up to five units of the same product.
Temu and similar platforms are required to display valid CE marks and safety certifications on product pages as per Turkey’s Regulation on Market Surveillance and Inspection of Remote E-commerce Goods (effective April 2024). Enforcement issues exist, with reports suggesting that Temu has been known to undervalue goods or split shipments to evade taxes, raising concerns about effective compliance and fairness towards local businesses.
Delivery times for cross-border purchases from Temu are typically between 8 and 25 days, with most items arriving within 14 days. If the final amount assessed by Turkey's customs authority exceeds the estimate, the customer is responsible for paying the difference upon delivery.
Temu, a subsidiary of PDD Holdings, the parent company of the widely used Chinese app Pinduoduo, has been gradually expanding its local presence in Turkey. The platform has seen a significant increase in visitor numbers, reaching 29 million in July 2025, and its revenue reached $70 billion in 2024, with approximately 292 million monthly active users worldwide.
The platform enables direct orders from Turkey, fulfilling deliveries from abroad through local couriers such as DHL e-Commerce, Aras Kargo, Hepsijet, and PTT Kargo. Temu also has a minimum order value of ₺670 ($16.48) for customers in Turkey.
These regulatory adjustments impose new obligations on both customers and Temu, potentially leading to higher taxes or shipment disruptions for non-compliance. The planned establishment of a local representative office by Temu in Turkey, with registration procedures expected to be finalized by the end of July 2025, is part of the company's broader effort to improve logistics infrastructure in Turkey and reduce delivery times to as little as one business day.
Regulatory bodies in Turkey have introduced new rules aimed at protecting consumer rights and preserving the competitiveness of domestic platforms. The challenges posed by these regulations highlight the need for e-commerce platforms to adapt and comply with local regulations to maintain a strong presence in international markets.
[1] Regulation on Customs Duties in Turkey [2] Regulation on Market Surveillance and Inspection of Remote E-commerce Goods in Turkey [3] Report on E-commerce Compliance in Turkey [4] Temu's Response to Compliance Concerns in Turkey
- The Turkish government implemented new customs regulations in August 2024, affecting platforms like Temu, reducing the customs-free threshold from €150 to €30 and imposing a 60% customs duty rate on products from non-EU countries, like China.
- Turkiye's Regulation on Market Surveillance and Inspection of Remote E-commerce Goods (effective April 2024) requires e-commerce platforms like Temu to display valid CE marks and safety certifications on product pages.
- Despite the challenges and concerns raised about effective compliance and fairness towards local businesses, Temu, a subsidiary of PDD Holdings, has been expanding its local presence in Turkey, with a significant increase in visitor numbers and revenue.
- The Turkish economy is keen on protecting consumer rights and preserving the competitiveness of domestic platforms, which underlines the importance for e-commerce platforms like Temu to adapt and comply with local regulations to maintain a strong presence in international markets.
- With the planned establishment of a local representative office by Temu in Turkey, the platform aims to improve logistics infrastructure in Turkiye, reduce delivery times, and potentially fulfill delivery of Turkish orders using local couriers such as DHL e-Commerce, Aras Kargo, Hepsijet, and PTT Kargo.
