Cyprus vs Turkey
Cyprus vs Turkey: procurement, logistics, tax & customs, industries — when to choose.
Comparison
| — | Cyprus (Limassol) | Turkey (Istanbul) |
|---|---|---|
| VAT | 19% (0% intra-EU B2B) | 20% (export 0%) |
| Lead time | 4-7 days | 4-8 days |
| Free zone | yes (Limassol) | yes (many) |
| Trade access | EU member | EU Customs Union |
| Currency | EUR | TRY |
| Ports | Limassol, Larnaca | Istanbul, Mersin, Izmir |
| Sourcing cost | medium (EU pricing) | low (best for textile/apparel) |
| Logistics cost | low intra-EU | low-medium |
| English level | very high | medium |
Procurement
Cyprus: finance, shipping, real estate, tourism, fintech. Free zone: yes (Limassol). Min-order lead: medium.
Turkey: textiles, automotive, electronics, food, tourism. Free zone: yes (many). Min-order lead: low.
Logistics
Cyprus: Limassol, Larnaca. logistics cost: low intra-EU.
Turkey: Istanbul, Mersin, Izmir. logistics cost: low-medium.
Tax & customs
Cyprus: VAT 19% (0% intra-EU B2B). Trade access: EU member.
Turkey: VAT 20% (export 0%). Trade access: EU Customs Union.
Industries
Cyprus: finance, shipping, real estate, tourism, fintech.
Turkey: textiles, automotive, electronics, food, tourism.
When to choose
Choose Cyprus if your priority is medium sourcing, Limassol hub access, and finance industry alignment. Choose Turkey if you need low sourcing with EU Customs Union trade access and low-medium logistics.
Verdict
Both regions are viable for B2B corporate merch sourcing. The deciding factor is rarely cost alone — it's customs/trade-bloc fit (EU vs GCC vs CIS), industry alignment, and lead-time tolerance. We can quote both and let you compare landed cost side-by-side.