19th February 2025 – (Istanbul) Tupras, Türkiye’s largest oil refiner, has ceased purchasing Russian crude oil in response to U.S. sanctions imposed on 10th January against Russian energy firms and oil tankers, Turkish newspaper Sozcu reported on Wednesday.
During a financial results meeting, Tupras Investor Relations Director Levent Bayar confirmed the decision, stating, “We have stopped importing Urals crude oil,” with the final shipments expected to arrive by the end of the month. It remains unclear whether the company will also halt imports of refined oil products from Russia.
Tupras became a significant buyer of Russian oil after the outbreak of the Ukrainian conflict in 2022, with Russian crude accounting for 65% of Türkiye’s total oil imports from January to November 2024, according to Sozcu.
The refiner, which operates four facilities across Türkiye with a combined annual processing capacity of 30 million tonnes, now faces adjustments to its supply chain amid the tightening sanctions. The U.S. measures target over 200 entities and individuals linked to Russia’s energy sector and designate more than 180 vessels as blocked property.
Tupras has yet to announce alternative sourcing plans for crude supplies as it navigates the implications of these sanctions.