Context & What’s Changing
On July 13, 2026, Turkey’s Trade Ministry announced a temporary reduction in the customs duty for dry onions to 5%, effective until August 31, 2026, in an effort to ease supply disruptions caused by excessive rainfall in producing regions. (risk.ticaret.gov.tr) The typical duty rate of 49.5% will resume from September 1, 2026, when the new harvest is expected to flood the market. (risk.ticaret.gov.tr)
Who Should Care
- Importers and wholesalers of onions: significant cost savings temporarily.
- Retailers selling onions: lower input cost can mean lower shelf price—unless local supply scarcity persists.
- Farmers and producers: protected by the high duty after August 31, 2026; policy encourages consumption of local produce.
Practical Implications & Action Plan
- If you're considering importing onions (or related goods under similar HS codes), try to execute import orders before September 1 to benefit from the reduced duty.
- Review supply contracts now to factor in duty rate changes. Procurement plans might benefit from locking in August imports.
- Understand eligibility: this change applies only until August 31, 2026; after that, the high 49.5% rate returns.
Example Scenario
A food distributor plans to import 10 tonnes of dry onions:
- If imported in August, duty = 10,000 × FOB cost × 5%.
- If delayed to September, the same shipment pays duty at 49.5%, nearly 10× more in duty costs.
Other Considerations
- Temporary provision—inventory bought under 5% duty can't be stored to evade the September rate. Ensure import clearances are completed by end-of-August.
- Check port documentation: actual date of shipment and customs entry could affect duty applied.
- Be mindful of logistics and freight delays—late arrival may trigger higher duty.
Further Information
- Official announcement from Ticaret Bakanlığı (Turkey’s Trade Ministry) detailing the timeline and purpose. (risk.ticaret.gov.tr)