Sourcing insulation from Turkey: packs per truck, DoP, transit, VAT

Updated: 2026-10-26

This guide is for contractors, developers, importers and builders' merchants in Hungary and the wider CEE region who buy Turkish insulation by the truckload. The general ordering process is covered in our 7-step ordering guide. This page covers what is specific to insulation: planning an order in packs and truckloads, how glass wool travels, what the Declaration of Performance (DoP) should show, and what to check before the trailer is sealed. Product figures come from ODE's 2023 Turkish building insulation brochure (Yapı Yalıtım Broşürü), cited by PDF page.

A truck fills up by volume, not by weight

Insulation is light and bulky. A truck runs out of space long before it reaches its weight limit, so an insulation order is planned in packs and cubic metres, not in tonnes.

ODE Isıpan XPS shows this clearly. One pack is 0.288 m³ at most thicknesses and 0.3024 m³ at 3, 6 and 7 cm (PDF p. 24). ODE gives the net load volume as 85 m³ for a semi-trailer and 45 m³ for a rigid truck. A semi-trailer takes 295 packs: 295 × 0.288 = 84.96 m³, which is practically the whole load space. At 3, 6 and 7 cm it takes 281 packs.

That gives the basic planning rule. The pack count per vehicle is almost the same at every thickness; the square metres are not. The thinner the board, the more m² fit in one load: 8,496.0 m² of 1 cm board against 849.6 m² of 10 cm board. In both cases the trailer carries about 85 m³ of board.

Planning in packs and truckloads: the Isıpan table

ODE Isıpan boards measure 600 × 1200 mm (PDF pp. 21 and 23), so one board covers 0.72 m². A pack holds 40 boards at 1 cm, 8 at 5 cm and 4 at 10 cm. The full table by thickness:

Source: ODE Yapı Yalıtım Broşürü (2023), PDF p. 24. The m² values are calculated (packs × m² per pack) and rounded to one decimal.

When you order, convert the area you need into whole packs first, then the packs into vehicles. An example with 10 cm board: 1,000 m² ÷ 2.88 m² = 347.2, so 348 packs. A semi-trailer takes 295 packs, or 849.6 m². The remaining 53 packs (152.64 m²) do not fit. You then need a second vehicle or a part load, or you adjust the quantity to the trailer. The same 1,000 m² in 5 cm board is 174 packs and fits in one trailer.

ODE's two brochures differ by a few packs. The 2022 English brochure gives 286 packs per trailer truck (275 at 3, 6 and 7 cm) and 156 per truck (150). It also lists 221–225 packs for a 40' HC container and 286–308 for a mega truck (PDF p. 25). The loading plan for the actual order therefore decides the real count. Ask for it before you fix the quantity.

Full truckload or part load?

There is no general minimum order quantity. The minimum, and whether the goods travel as a full truckload or a part load, are agreed per order with the producer or the importer.

With a full truckload the vehicle carries only your goods and the loading plan is made for one order. With a part load (groupage) your goods travel together with other shippers' consignments, which can suit smaller quantities. For comparison: DACHSER Hungary announced on 13 October 2026 a scheduled groupage line between Hungary and Turkey with a typical transit of 5–6 days, carrying part and full loads. That is a different service from a dedicated truck, so the two transit times are not directly comparable.

A mixed truck, for example XPS, glass wool and membranes together, can be planned too. It is a question for the loading plan: which item goes where, next to what, and what may be stacked on what. ODE states that glass wool packs must not be exposed to point loads (PDF p. 14), which matters when a load is mixed.

How glass wool travels

ODE Starflex glass wool can be shipped in hyperpack (HP) pallet packing. According to ODE (PDF p. 14), this packing:

• loads more product into the same volume;
• can be loaded and unloaded on pallets;
• can be stored outdoors;
• keeps stocking costs to a minimum.

For transport and storage ODE asks for the following. Protect the product from direct sunlight. Store the packs horizontally on a flat surface and do not expose them to point loads. Keep them away from compounds containing solvents, petroleum products containing solvents, and bleaching or corrosive chemicals.

How many m² are in a glass wool pack, and how many packs fit in a trailer? That depends on the type and thickness. ODE's technical data for the ordered product gives the exact figure. Ask for it with the quote, together with the loading plan.

DoP and CE: what to read on the paperwork

A construction product covered by a harmonised standard carries CE marking and a Declaration of Performance. For glass wool the standard is EN 13162; for XPS it is EN 13164. On the DoP, look first at the declared thermal conductivity (λD) and the reaction to fire class.

• ODE Starflex glass wool: λD 0.039 W/(m·K), DoP to EN 13162.
• ODE Isıpan XPS: λ from 0.035 W/(m·K), 300 kPa compressive strength for the PRM 300 type, EN 13164, Euroclass E.

The product name and DoP number should match the order and the pack label. When one trailer carries several thicknesses or types, check each line separately.

Before the seal: what to check at loading

Settle any discrepancy before loading. Once the trailer is sealed, problems only show up on delivery. Our article on checks before the seal covers the process. For insulation the main points are:

• Product name and DoP number: match the order.
• Pack count: matches the loading plan, per thickness and type.
• Film: the wrapping on packs and pallets is intact.
• Securing: the load is strapped and cannot shift in transit.
• Photos: of the load before sealing and of the seal.

Transit, customs and lead time

By road (Istanbul–Budapest) our transit time is 3–5 days, about 5 on average. Customs clearance typically takes 2–3 hours, and the lead time from order is typically 1–2 weeks. The quote states the actual time.

Industrial goods under the EU–Türkiye customs union are released for free circulation duty-free with an A.TR movement certificate. Import VAT is still payable. The A.TR is explained in our A.TR article, and truck versus container in our Turkey–Hungary logistics guide.

1. Order: type, thickness, m², packing.

2. DoP and CE: product name and DoP number match the order.

3. Loading and seal: pack count, film, securing.

4. Road transit: 3–5 days, about 5 on average (EuConX).

5. Customs: A.TR, import VAT; typically 2–3 hours (EuConX).

6. Delivery: delivery note and packs reconciled.

Total lead time from order: typically 1–2 weeks (EuConX). The times are indicative; the quote states the actual time.

Sea, rail and road options are compared in our intermodal transport article. The cost items of an import are listed in a separate article (in Hungarian).

Storage on site

ODE's transport and storage rules for glass wool also apply on site. HP-packed Starflex can be stored outdoors, but out of direct sunlight. Lay the packs horizontally on a flat surface and do not put anything on them that would create a point load. Keep them away from solvents and chemicals.

HP packing can be unloaded on pallets. If there is no forklift or pallet truck on site, say so when you ask for the quote. For XPS storage, the producer's instructions apply; ask for them with the product data. General storage rules are summarised in another article (in Hungarian).

What EuConX supplies

EuConX imports ODE glass wool and XPS from Turkey, together with its own membranes: the EuConX BK45 vapour barrier (Sd 20 m) and the EuConX BD70 breathable membrane (Sd 0.02 m). What the Sd value means is explained in our Sd value guide. In 2025–26 we delivered 1.1 million m² of glass wool and 4.3 million m² of membranes. We reply to quote requests the same working day.

Frequently asked questions

How many square metres of XPS fit in a truck?

ODE's 2023 brochure gives 295 packs of ODE Isıpan per semi-trailer (85 m³ net), 281 at 3, 6 and 7 cm. That is 1,699.2 m² at 5 cm and 849.6 m² at 10 cm. The loading plan for the order gives the actual count.

Why do more square metres of thin board fit in a load?

Because the trailer fills up by volume. The pack count is almost the same at every thickness, but a pack of thinner board holds more area: 28.80 m² at 1 cm, 2.88 m² at 10 cm.

Is there a minimum order quantity?

There is no general figure. The minimum, and whether the goods go as a full truckload or a part load, are agreed per order with the producer or the importer.

How much glass wool fits in a truck?

It depends on the type and thickness. ODE's technical data for the ordered product gives the m² per pack. Hyperpack pallet packing loads more product into the same volume. Ask for the loading plan.

Can glass wool be stored outdoors?

ODE states that hyperpack-packed Starflex can be stored outdoors. It must be protected from direct sunlight, and the packs must be stored horizontally on a flat surface without point loads.

What should I check on the DoP?

That it is issued to EN 13162 for glass wool or EN 13164 for XPS, the declared thermal conductivity (λD) and the reaction to fire class. The product name and DoP number should match the order and the pack label.

Is customs duty payable on Turkish insulation?

Industrial goods under the customs union are released duty-free with an A.TR movement certificate. Import VAT is payable. Our customs clearance typically takes 2–3 hours.

Insulation from Turkey, planned by the pack and the truckload: contact us · +36 30 485 0258 · info@euconx.com. We reply the same working day.

Sources

1. ODE Yalıtım: Yapı Yalıtım Broşürü (2023, in Turkish), PDF pp. 14, 21, 23 and 24: https://ode.com.tr/_upload/pdf/yapi-yalitim-brosuru_2.pdf

2. ODE Yalıtım: Building insulation (2022), PDF pp. 14 and 25: https://ode.com.tr/_upload/pdf/ode_building_insulation_brochure_3.pdf

3. ODE Yalıtım: glass wool Declaration of Performance, EN 13162: https://ode.com.tr/_upload/pdf/CAMYUONUO_PERFORMANS_BEYANI_SIOLTE-LEVHA_-_EN_13162.pdf

4. European Commission: CE marking and Declaration of Performance and conformity: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/construction/construction-products-regulation-cpr/ce-marking-and-declaration-performance-and-conformity_en

5. European Commission, Access2Markets: EU–Türkiye Customs Union: https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/content/eu-turkiye-customs-union

6. European Commission, DG TAXUD: Turkey – customs unions and preferential arrangements: https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/turkey-customs-unions-and-preferential-arrangements_en

7. Decision No 1/2006 of the EC–Turkey Customs Cooperation Committee (EUR-Lex): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX%3A22006D0646

8. European Commission: Taxable transactions (VAT): https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/taxation/vat/vat-directive/taxable-transactions_en

9. DACHSER Hungary: Gyors, egyszerű, kiszámítható szállítást biztosít Törökországba a DACHSER (13 Oct 2026, in Hungarian): https://www.dachser.hu/hu/mediaroom/Gyors-egyszeru-kiszamithato-szallitas-Torokorszagba-31902

10. EuConX: Turkey–Hungary logistics for insulation: truck or container

11. EuConX: Check the paperwork before the seal on TR to HU shipments

12. EuConX: Ordering building materials from Turkey in 7 steps