Key takeaways
- China usually wins on unit price at high volume and on electronics and moulded consumer products.
- Turkey competes well on low-to-medium volumes, heavy or bulky fabrications and anything sold into Europe.
- Compare landed cost — part price plus freight, duty and inventory — not just the quote.
- Many companies use Turkey as a second source to reduce dependency on a single region.
The short answer
Neither country is better for everything. China has unmatched scale, especially for electronics, injection-moulded parts and very high volumes. Turkey is a strong choice for metal parts and fabrications in small and medium batches, for bulky items where freight is a big share of cost, and for any product whose main market is Europe.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Turkey | China |
|---|---|---|
| Typical strength | CNC, sheet metal, welded steel, assembly, low–mid volume | Electronics, moulded parts, very high volume |
| Transit to central Europe | Days by road | Weeks by sea; rail and air are faster but cost more |
| Transit to US East Coast | Weeks by sea, days by air | Several weeks by sea, days by air |
| EU import duty on industrial goods | Generally none under the customs union (A.TR) | Standard EU tariff rates apply |
| US import duty | Depends on HTS code; Section 232 may apply to steel and aluminium | Depends on HTS code; additional Section 301 duties on many goods |
| Working-hours overlap | Most of the day with Europe, mornings with US East Coast | Little or none with Europe and the US |
| Minimum order | Often flexible, single pieces possible | Often higher MOQs for best pricing |
Tariff rates change frequently. Always check the current rate for your HTS or CN code with a customs broker before deciding.
Cost: look at landed cost, not unit price
A lower ex-works price can disappear once you add ocean freight, duty, longer inventory cycles and the cost of a bad batch you discover six weeks later. For bulky welded frames, trailers or machine bases, freight alone can be a large share of the total. A simple landed-cost comparison should include:
- Part price at your real batch size, including tooling or fixtures.
- Packaging and freight to your door.
- Import duty and any additional tariffs.
- Inventory you must hold to cover transit time.
- Cost of quality: inspection, rework and the risk of a late discovery.
Lead time and responsiveness
Shorter transit lets you order smaller batches more often, which reduces inventory and lets you change the design between batches. Time-zone overlap also matters more than it looks: a drawing question answered the same day can save a week on a prototype.
Risk and supply-chain resilience
Single-region sourcing is exposed to tariffs, port congestion and geopolitical shocks. A common strategy is "China plus one": keep high-volume commodity parts where they are and move fabrications, low-volume parts or Europe-bound products to a second region such as Turkey.
When Turkey is the better fit
- Welded frames, steel structures, trailers and other bulky fabrications.
- Machined and sheet metal parts in batches from one to a few thousand.
- Products sold mainly in the EU or UK.
- Projects that need engineering support — design changes, DFM or drawings — alongside manufacturing.
If you want to test a part family, start with our contract manufacturing service or read the guide to contract manufacturing in Turkey.
Frequently asked questions
Is Turkey cheaper than China?
On unit price China is often cheaper at high volume. For metal fabrications in small and medium batches, and especially for delivery into Europe, Turkey is frequently competitive on landed cost.
Can I move just part of my supply chain to Turkey?
Yes. Many companies move one family of parts — for example welded frames or machined components — and keep the rest where it is.
More guides
- Contract manufacturing in Turkey: a practical guide for US and European buyers
- How to outsource mechanical design without losing control
- DFM checklist for CNC machined, sheet metal and welded parts
- RFQ checklist: what to send for an accurate manufacturing quote
- When do you need FEA? A practical guide for product teams