Cotton Inspection in Turkey
Turkey is a significant cotton producer and one of the largest cotton consumers, with a major textile industry. Lint trade requires independent quality and weight verification under recognised trade rules.
- Season
- September to December
- Main regions
- Southeastern Anatolia, Aegean, Mediterranean
- Category
- Agricultural Commodities
- Key tests
- HVI testing; Moisture
01Product overview
- Upland cotton, roller and saw ginned
- Quality measured by HVI instruments
- Contamination with plastic and other foreign fibres is a known issue for spinners
02Turkish production regions
Şanlıurfa (Harran plain), Aydın, Diyarbakır, Hatay, Adana and Mardin.
03Harvest and production season
Harvest and ginning from September to December.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September, in season
- October, in season
- November, in season
- December, in season
Typical window: September to December. Timing shifts with altitude, variety and weather. See the full Turkish harvest calendar.
04Export characteristics
Most Turkish cotton is consumed domestically; Turkey also imports large volumes.
05Typical quality parameters
| Parameter | What is checked |
|---|---|
| Fibre length | Upper half mean length |
| Strength | g/tex |
| Micronaire | Fineness and maturity |
| Uniformity | Index |
| Colour and trash | Rd, +b, trash grade |
| Moisture | Bale moisture |
Limits and tolerances come from your contract and the applicable standard. We do not apply generic values where a contract specification exists.
06Visual inspection criteria
- Bale condition and marking
- Contamination with plastic and foreign fibres
- Moisture damage
07Sampling methods
Sampling follows the trade rules named in the contract, such as ICA rules for cotton, FOSFA rules for oilseeds or ISTA rules for seed. Where no rule is specified, we propose a documented plan before work starts.
08Laboratory testing
- HVI testing
- Moisture
- Moisture and foreign matter
- Oil content where relevant
- Contract-specific quality analyses
Testing is coordinated through laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 for the required method. See laboratory coordination.
09Food safety and quality risks
- Contamination
- Moisture and weight claims
- Quality variation between bales
10Packaging and labelling
Pressed bales of around 200 to 230 kg.
11Storage and transportation
Dry warehouses.
12Pre-shipment inspection procedure
- Agree specification and trade rules
- Verify lot identity and quantity
- Draw and seal representative samples
- Examine condition, contamination, moisture and foreign matter
- Send samples for contract analyses
- Supervise weighing and loading
- Issue quality and quantity reports
13Relevant international standards
Regulations are amended regularly. Always check the version in force for your destination market.
14Conformity TR services for cotton
Agricultural Commodity Inspection
Quality and quantity inspection of grains, pulses, oilseeds, meals, feed ingredients and cotton under GAFTA, FOSFA, ICA or contract rules
Crop and Orchard Status Monitoring
Field visits to orchards, vineyards, greenhouses and farms for buyers who have contracted a future crop and want to see its condition before harvest, with dated photographs, video and a written status report
Pre-Shipment Inspection
Final random inspection of food, produce and feed before it leaves the supplier, when the goods are packed and ready to load
Loading Supervision
Supervision of truck, reefer container, bulk vessel and flexitank loading, so the goods that were inspected are the goods that are shipped
Laboratory Coordination
Sampling and coordination of laboratory testing through competent external laboratories: microbiology, pesticide residues, heavy metals, mycotoxins, nutrition, moisture, foreign matter, authenticity and packaging migration
15Questions buyers ask
When is the season for cotton in Turkey?
Harvest and ginning from September to December. Typical window: September to December. Exact timing varies with region, altitude and weather each year.
Where are cotton produced in Turkey?
Şanlıurfa (Harran plain), Aydın, Diyarbakır, Hatay, Adana and Mardin.
Which laboratory tests are typical for cotton?
Common tests include hVI testing; moisture; moisture and foreign matter; oil content where relevant. The right test plan depends on your specification and destination market.
What are the main quality and safety risks for Turkish cotton?
Contamination. Moisture and weight claims. Quality variation between bales.
Can Conformity TR inspect cotton and supervise loading?
Yes. We inspect cotton at the supplier against your specification, coordinate laboratory testing where required and supervise loading, with a photographic report to you the same day.
Request inspection for cotton in Turkey
Send the product, supplier location and timing by email, phone or WhatsApp. We confirm scope, sampling method, laboratory plan and cost before any work starts.
- Food-qualified inspector at the supplier
- Report with photographs the same day
- Independent of the supplier
Inspection request: Cotton
For a fast proposal, include the product and specification, supplier location, destination market and expected dates. We reply in English, usually within one business day.
Related products
Cottonseed
Fuzzy and delinted cottonseed from Turkish gins is used for crushing, direct ruminant feeding and planting seed.
Cottonseed Meal
Cottonseed meal is a by-product of crushing in Turkey's cotton regions.
Oilseeds
Sunflower seed, canola, safflower and sesame are grown in Turkey, alongside confectionery sunflower seeds for snacking.