Flowers & plants air freight from Turkey to Kazakhstan

Why flowers & plants by airfreight?

Cut flowers and plants have a shelf life of only a few days. Airfreight is not an option — it is the only option. Roses picked in Kenya on Monday must be in the auction in Aalsmeer by Wednesday. This is only possible via airfreight with a controlled cold chain.

The Netherlands is the world’s largest trading nation in cut flowers and Schiphol is the epicenter. Aircargo.nl has many years of experience with the specific requirements of flower transport: speed, cooling, phytosanitary documentation, and direct delivery to the auction.

Typical flower transport routes

• Kenya (roses, lilies) → Schiphol: multiple times per day
• Ecuador & Colombia (roses, chrysanthemums) → Schiphol via Miami or direct
• Ethiopia → Schiphol: growing cut flower sector
• Export Dutch flowers → US, Japan, Russia, China

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.

Importing from Kazakhstan

Imports from Kazakhstan via air cargo are relatively limited and mainly involve high-quality industrial components, mining samples, pharmaceutical raw materials, and certain specialty foods such as caviar.

Air Cargo vs. Sea/Rail

Kazakhstan is landlocked — sea freight is not an option. Rail transport via the Trans-Asian route takes 18–25 days to Rotterdam, while air cargo via Schiphol is customs cleared within 1–3 business days. For urgent shipments or high-value goods, air freight is the logical choice.

Customs on Imports from Kazakhstan

EU import duties apply depending on the HS code. Reduced rates may apply under the GSP system for certain goods. Aircargo.nl handles clearance at Schiphol and offers fiscal representation when needed.

Frequently Requested Goods from Kazakhstan

• Mining samples and soil specimens
• Pharmaceutical raw materials and uranium derivatives (under license)
• Industrial parts and spare parts
• Specialty foods and agricultural samples

Turkey as a crosstrade hub

Istanbul (IST) is one of the most advanced cargo hubs in the world and home to Turkish Cargo — the market leader in air freight volume in Europe. Schiphol extensively uses Istanbul as a transit hub for shipments to Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Conversely, cargo from these regions is routed via IST to AMS for European distribution.

Aircargo.nl maintains direct connections with Turkish Cargo and local agents in Istanbul, coordinating freight documentation for both transit shipments and destination traffic to Turkey itself.

Points of attention for flower transport

Cold chain

Flowers must be kept between 2–8°C throughout the entire transport. Any temperature interruption accelerates the aging process and reduces shelf life for the end customer. Aircargo.nl works exclusively with certified cool-chain handlers at Schiphol.

Phytosanitary requirements

A phytosanitary certificate is mandatory for importing plants and cut flowers from countries outside the EU. This certificate is issued by the plant health authority of the exporting country and confirms that the shipment is free from pests. Aircargo.nl routinely checks and processes all phytosanitary documents.

CITES

Certain orchids and exotic plants fall under CITES protection and require a CITES permit. Always contact us if you are unsure about the CITES status of your products.