Valuable goods by Air Freight to Turkey

Valuable goods by air freight: security and speed

Gold, diamonds, watches, art, jewelry, banknotes and other valuable goods have two things in common: they are small (light shipments) and the value per kilogram is extremely high. Air freight is not only the fastest for this type of goods — it is also the safest mode of transport.

Sea freight with a container full of valuable goods is a security nightmare: container theft, long dwell times at ports, limited traceability. Air freight via secure cargo terminals with direct handling from aircraft to vault minimizes the risk.

What do we ship as valuable goods?

• Precious metals: gold, silver, platinum (in bars or coins)
• Precious stones: diamonds (certified), rubies, emeralds
• Luxury watches and jewelry (for brands, retailers and private individuals)
• Art and antiques (with ATA Carnet for temporary import)
• Banknotes and securities (on behalf of banks and central banks)
• Smartphones and high-end electronics with high street value

Exporting to Turkey

Turkey is one of the Netherlands’ key trading partners just outside the EU. The country is part of a customs union with the EU for industrial products, which greatly simplifies import procedures. Schiphol offers multiple direct cargo flights daily to Istanbul (IST) via Turkish Cargo — the market leader in air freight. Cargo-to-cargo transit typically takes 4–6 hours.

Customs & regulations

The EU-Turkey customs union applies to industrial products: Dutch goods in free circulation can be cleared duty-free under an A.TR certificate. This customs union does not apply to agricultural products — EUR.1 certificates or standard import duties are required in those cases. For foodstuffs, cosmetics, and medical devices, TITCK and Tarim Bakanligi registrations are necessary.

Practical tips

• A correct A.TR certificate is vital for duty-free clearance — verify this for every shipment
• Account for inflation-related exchange rate fluctuations when pricing
• Documentation in Turkish or English is accepted — Turkish customs are largely digitalized

Aircargo.nl works closely with Turkish Cargo and local agents in Istanbul, managing the full documentation process — including A.TR and EUR.1 certificates — for smooth handling.

Important notes for valuable goods

Secure handling mandatory

Valuable goods at Schiphol are exclusively processed via secure cargo terminals with access control, CCTV surveillance and armed security if required. Aircargo.nl cooperates with specialized valuables handlers certified for high-value cargo.

Insurance

Standard air freight insurance covers up to 22 SDR per kilogram — usually insufficient for valuable goods. Aircargo.nl always advises additional all-risk transport insurance based on the actual value. We can arrange this insurance upon request.

Documentation

A detailed value declaration with serial numbers, photos and certificates (e.g. GIA certificate for diamonds, authenticity certificates for art) is essential. Upon import into some countries (e.g. India, UAE) high-value shipments are routinely subject to extra checks.

Routing & splitting

For very high values (above €500,000) we advise splitting the shipment over multiple flights to reduce risk. This requires coordination with the recipient and possibly additional security measures at the destination.