A standard 40ft container from Istanbul (Ambarli) to Umm Qasr costs approximately US$1,900 (range $1,672–$2,185) with a total sea transit of 14 days and typical door-to-door lead time of 21–25 days including port handling and customs clearance. Iraq applies 5% customs duty and 0% VAT on imported goods.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| 40ft container (low–high) | $1,672 – $2,185 |
| 20ft container (low–high) | $1,087 – $1,420 |
| Origin ports | Istanbul (Ambarli), Mersin, Izmir |
| Destination ports | Umm Qasr, Basra |
| Major carriers | MSC, Arkas, CMA CGM, Turkon |
| Customs duty | 5% |
| VAT | None |
| FTA benefit | Standard MFN rates apply |
Indicative General Cargo rates; refreshed monthly by Tradloc's trade desk.
| Departure port | 40ft (USD) | 20ft (USD) | Sea transit (days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul (Ambarli) | $1,900 | $1,235 | 14 |
| Mersin | $1,767 | $1,149 | 14 |
| Izmir | $1,843 | $1,198 | 14 |
Rates differ by loading port because of terminal handling and inland positioning costs in Turkey.
Indicative 40ft container freight into Iraq across the lanes importers request most often. The Turkey lane is highlighted, so you can see instantly whether switching origin would materially change your ocean freight line item. Figures are the mid-point of each lane's assessed range and exclude duty, VAT and destination clearance.
Turkey supplies steel, construction materials, processed food and polymers into the Gulf, moving via Mersin, Izmir and Ambarli either through Suez or on Ro-Ro/short-sea services.
Mediterranean services via Suez, plus land-bridge and Ro-Ro options for time-critical or project cargo.
Iraq's sea imports move through Umm Qasr and Basra, dominated by reconstruction materials, foodstuffs and industrial inputs.
Run the freight estimator for Turkey → Iraq.