The micro-export limit is 600 kilograms gross weight and €30,000 (excluding VAT). The 300 kg / €15,000 thresholds set by Customs General Communiqué Serial No. 4 were raised to 600 kg / €30,000 by a circular of Türkiye's Directorate General of Customs. Shipments within these limits can be exported through authorized express carriers using an ETGB declaration — no customs broker required.
If you sell abroad on Etsy, Trendyol, Amazon or your own site, something quiet but directly relevant to you happened in December 2025.
The micro-export threshold doubled.
Yet search the web and you will still find dozens of pages quoting the old numbers. Some say €15,000, some say 300 kilograms. This article covers the current rules, when the limit is actually reached, and — most importantly — what happens the day you exceed it. That last part matters, because almost nobody writes about it.
What Is the New Limit?
| Old limit | New limit | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross weight | 300 kg | 600 kg |
| Value (excl. VAT) | €15,000 | €30,000 |
Legal basis: The framework rests on Customs General Communiqué (Postal and Express Cargo Transport) Serial No. 4, published in Official Gazette No. 28583 dated 10 March 2013. The 300 kg / €15,000 thresholds set by that communiqué were raised to 600 kg / €30,000 by a circular of the Directorate General of Customs, under the Ministry of Trade's authority to increase these limits.
The most important consequence is not the number itself: the channel is no longer only for retail sales to end consumers (B2C). It can now also be used for small wholesale shipments between businesses (B2B).
In other words, the Etsy seller shipping jewellery one order at a time and the small brand sending a 400-kilogram textile lot to a boutique in Germany can now use the same simplified channel.
What it means in practice for a marketplace seller: previously you could only ship retail orders. Now sending a wholesale batch to a store abroad is just as easy.
What exactly does "gross weight" mean?
This is the most common mistake. Gross weight is not the weight of the product alone. It is the total weight including packaging, pallet and protective material.
If your products weigh 540 kilograms and the packaging adds 70, your shipment is 610 kilograms — and it is outside the micro-export scheme. If you are close to the threshold, weigh the packaging in advance.
What Is ETGB and How Does It Work?
ETGB — the Electronic Trade Customs Declaration — is a simplified declaration type that speeds up exports made through express cargo.
The difference from classic export: you do not need to hire your own customs broker. The declaration is filed on your behalf by a broker authorized by the express operator. Authorized operators include PTT, DHL, UPS, FedEx and TNT.
The process:
- A contract with the cargo company and a one-time indirect representation authorization
- Shipment details are entered into the ETGB system
- The authorized broker files the declaration
- The declaration is registered and an ETGB number is generated
- The shipment departs
- The ETGB number is tracked via e-Devlet
Critical point: the job is not done when the parcel ships. It is done when the ETGB reaches "closed" status. Without closure, the VAT refund chain breaks. Manage the operation by "closure received", not by "parcel sent".
VAT Refunds: Serious Working Capital When Done Right
Exports made with an ETGB count as exports under the Customs Law and create a right to a VAT refund. E-archive invoices are issued with 0% VAT under Article 11/1-a of the VAT Law; the input VAT you paid can be recovered through refund or offset.
Three things that burn the refund:
| Mistake | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Wrong HS code or product description | The refund can be rejected; penalties may follow a later audit |
| Foreign Exchange Purchase Document (DAB) not obtained in time | Your refund right becomes disputable |
| ETGB closure not tracked | The accounting chain stays incomplete |
The DAB is proof that the export proceeds were brought into Türkiye. Do not miss the deadline.
If you are not sure about your HS code, verify it before shipping — this single step closes the riskiest part of your refund process: HS Code Lookup
In addition, part of the export income earned via ETGB can qualify for an income tax exemption under the Income Tax Law. This depends on your company structure — confirm it with your accountant.
What Happens When You Exceed the Limit?
Here is the part nobody writes. A shipment that exceeds 600 kilograms or €30,000 falls out of the micro-export scheme. And the game changes completely.
| Micro-export (ETGB) | Classic export | |
|---|---|---|
| Customs broker | Not required | Mandatory |
| Declaration type | Simplified, electronic | Standard export declaration |
| Transport mode | Express cargo | LTL, FTL, container |
| Cost structure | Per-kilo, single price | Freight + THC + documents + local charges |
| Preparation time | Hours | Days |
| Getting a price | Carrier's published tariff | Comparative quotes required |
This transition catches most sellers unprepared. In express cargo, pricing was transparent — enter the weight, get the price. In classic export, the price is found by collecting quotes, and every quote is built from different line items.
And the critical truth: a 610-kilogram shipment does not have to be more expensive than a 590-kilogram express parcel. In the right transport mode it is usually cheaper. Groupage (LTL) pricing per kilo sits well below express cargo.
The problem is not cost — it is not knowing the process. You can see which line items may appear in our freight surcharges reference.
4 Steps If You Are Approaching the Limit
1. Do the math before splitting a shipment. Two separate 500-kilogram shipments can cost more than a single 1,000-kilogram groupage load. Splitting is not always cheaper.
2. Get LTL quotes and compare them. Quotes for the same load vary widely between carriers — and the cheapest quote is usually the most incomplete one.
3. Build your customs broker relationship now. If you start searching for a broker the week you exceed the limit, your shipment waits. Meet one beforehand.
4. Get your HS codes right once. The same code is used in micro-export and classic export alike. If it is wrong, it causes problems on both sides.
Conclusion
Raising the limit to 600 kg / €30,000 is a real expansion for small exporters — especially now that B2B wholesale shipments can flow through this channel.
But the limit is a ceiling. Every growing seller crosses it one day. Being prepared for that day means your shipment does not sit waiting at the port.
See today what happens when you cross 600 kilograms. Publish your load once on LogiFindex and collect comparative quotes from carriers, insurers and customs brokers at the same time — with 0% commission.