Glass greenhouse with rows of tomato plants in Turkey
Photo: Unsplash
IMPORT FROM BRAZIL · TURKEY

Import coir from Brazil to Turkey

Updated 2026-09-18

Washed coir pith and coir fiber from dry Brazilian husk, FOB Pecem. Counter-seasonal to India, 18–28 days to Mersin, 0% import duty.

Port of Pecem, Ceara, Brazil - container terminal
18–28 days
Transit time, Pecem to Mersin via Mediterranean transshipment
Carrier schedules 2026
0% duty
Customs duty on coir pith entering Turkey (GTIP 1404.90.00.99.19)
Turkish tariff schedule
$26–39/t
Freight saving vs India–Turkey route
Freight forwarder quotations 2026
No Suez
Atlantic–Mediterranean route avoids the Suez Canal and Red Sea
APM Terminals Pecem
SHIPPING ROUTE

Pecem to Mersin, via the Mediterranean

The route from Brazil to Turkey is an Atlantic crossing to the Western Mediterranean, then eastward to Mersin. No Suez Canal, no Red Sea chokepoint.

PECEM BRAZIL TRANSSHIPMENT ALGECIRAS / VALENCIA / GIOIA TAURO MERSIN TURKEY ~6-10 DAYS ~12-18 DAYS
Atlantic–Mediterranean route: no Suez Canal, no Red Sea passage
Freight advantage: Brazil saves $26–39/t vs India–Turkey route (freight forwarder quotations, 2026)
Pecem is the Brazilian port closest to Europe and the Mediterranean
Container ship in the Suez Canal - Brazil-Turkey route avoids this chokepoint
The Brazil–Turkey coir route is an Atlantic–Mediterranean crossing. It does not pass through the Suez Canal or the Red Sea.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

What Carve ships to Turkey

Coir pith, coir fiber and husk chips from mature dry coconut husk, mechanically processed without chemicals. Specifications agreed with each buyer, lot by lot.

ParameterSpecification
ProductCoir pith (coco peat), coir fiber, husk chips
FormatWashed blocks (5 kg, 30 x 30 x 14 cm), bales, bags
EC (1:5)< 0.5 mS/cm (washed) · < 0.25 mS/cm (buffered)
pH5.5–6.5
Moisture< 18%
Expansion≥ 13 L/kg (at least 65 L per 5 kg block)
Sand / impurities< 2%
Container loading20–22 pallets per 40' HC, ~23 tonnes net
PackagingISPM-15 treated pallets, shrink-wrapped
PhytosanitaryCertificate issued by MAPA/Vigiagro at Pecem
Coco peat block closeup - compressed 5 kg block from dry husk
Compressed 5 kg coir pith block. Expands to at least 65 L of loose coco peat after hydration.
WHY BRAZIL

Advantages for Turkish importers

Brazil is a counter-seasonal, Atlantic-route alternative to traditional Asian coir supply.

Counter-seasonal supply
Brazil's coconut harvest peaks September to February, when India and Sri Lanka face monsoon constraints (southwest monsoon June–September, Tamil Nadu northeast monsoon October–December). This means continuous supply year-round when both origins are combined.
FUNCEME · India Meteorological Department
No Suez Canal risk
The Atlantic–Mediterranean route from Pecem to Mersin does not pass through the Suez Canal or the Red Sea. Zero geopolitical chokepoint exposure on the supply chain.
APM Terminals Pecem
Competitive freight
Freight from Pecem to Mersin: $109–207/t. From India to Mersin: $135–243/t. Brazil saves $26–39/t per tonne on average.
Freight forwarder quotations, 2026
Shorter or equivalent transit
18–28 days from Pecem to Mersin, vs 20–27 days from India via the Suez Canal (when available) or 35+ days via the Cape of Good Hope.
Carrier schedules 2026
Supply chain diversification
Reduce single-origin dependence on Asian suppliers. A second continent of supply protects against monsoon delays, port congestion, or geopolitical disruption on the India–Turkey corridor.
Dry husk processing
Brazilian coconut husk is not retted in brackish lagoons. The raw material carries less sodium and chloride, requiring fewer wash cycles to reach low EC. The result is a cleaner starting substrate.
Raviv, Lieth & Bar-Tal (2019), Soilless Culture, ch. 8
Coconut palms in Paraipaba, Ceara, Brazil - source of dry husk for coir
Coconut palms at Lagoinha, Paraipaba, Ceara. The dry season runs June to December, when India's monsoon slows drying.
Greenhouse tomatoes on coir substrate - Almeria growing region
Mediterranean greenhouse production on coir substrate. Turkey's growing greenhouse sector uses coir for tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.
TRADE TERMS

Customs, documents and payment

Coir enters Turkey under GTIP 1404.90.00.99.19 with 0% customs duty. KDV (VAT) of 20% applies and is recoverable for registered businesses.

Required documents
  • Commercial invoice
  • Packing list
  • Bill of lading (B/L)
  • Phytosanitary certificate issued by MAPA/Vigiagro at Pecem
  • Fumigation certificate
  • Certificate of origin
  • ISPM-15 pallet treatment certificate
  • Lot analysis report (EC, pH, moisture, expansion)
Payment and Incoterms
  • Incoterms: FOB Port of Pecem, Ceara, Brazil
  • CFR or CIF available on request through our freight forwarder
  • Payment: advance with balance against B/L copy
  • Established buyers: documents against payment (D/P) through banks
  • Larger recurring contracts: letter of credit
Customs entry
  • GTIP: 1404.90.00.99.19
  • Customs duty: 0%
  • KDV (VAT): 20% (recoverable for businesses)

The importer's customs broker should confirm the tariff classification for each shipment. Tariff data as of September 2026.

FAQ

Questions Turkish importers ask before a first order

What is the transit time from Brazil to Turkey?

18 to 28 days from the Port of Pecem to Mersin, via Mediterranean transshipment at Algeciras, Valencia or Gioia Tauro. The route is an Atlantic–Mediterranean crossing and does not pass through the Suez Canal or the Red Sea.

Is there import duty on coir entering Turkey?

Coir pith is classified under GTIP 1404.90.00.99.19 with 0% customs duty. KDV (VAT) of 20% applies and is recoverable for registered businesses. The importer's customs broker should confirm the classification for each shipment.

What EC levels are available?

Washed coir pith: EC below 0.5 mS/cm (1:5 extract). Buffered coir pith, treated with calcium and magnesium after washing: EC below 0.25 mS/cm. The raw material is dry inland husk that was never retted in brackish water, so it starts at a lower salt level than most Asian coir.

Why is Brazilian coir less salty than Indian coir?

In many Asian producing regions, the husk is retted (soaked) in brackish lagoons before fiber is extracted, which raises sodium and chloride levels in the pith. Brazilian husk is dried in the sun and processed mechanically without retting. The result is a lower baseline salt content and fewer wash cycles needed to reach low EC.

Can we receive a sample before ordering?

Yes. Samples are sent with the lot analysis report and photographs of the hydrated block. Independent inspection at stuffing can be arranged at Pecem.

Which products are available?

Coir pith (coco peat) in washed 5 kg blocks, coir fiber in bales, and coir mix (pith and fiber blend in a ratio defined with the buyer). Husk chips are available for inquiry.

What are the payment terms for a first container?

Terms are agreed per order. The standard structure for a first order is an advance with the balance against the bill of lading copy. Documents against payment (D/P) for established relationships, or letter of credit for larger recurring contracts.

Request a quote for Turkey

Send the product, grade, format, monthly volume and destination port. We reply with the specification sheet, an example lot report and the FOB Pecem offer within two working days.

See also: Turkey coir market intelligence