Turkey imported a record volume of Russian oil in 2024, analyst firm Kpler said.
According to Kpler, Turkey increased its oil imports by more than 35% in 2024, totalling 323,000 bpd. The absolute record was recorded in June, when daily deliveries reached 449 thousand barrels. The previous record, set in 2022, was 254,000 bpd, and in 2023, deliveries fell 6 per cent to 237,000 bpd.
Turkey’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) confirmed that the country imported 12.235 million tonnes of Russian crude oil in January-August 2024, exceeding the figure for the whole of 2022. Turkey has strengthened its position as one of the largest buyers of Russian crude, which was possible due to the reduction of oil imports by European countries.
According to experts, the key aspect of the growth of supplies from Russia is the desire of Turkey to become an energy centre and earn on the resale of resources purchased at reduced prices.
Earlier, Turkey announced new rules for oil shippers to cross the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits.
