The largest oil refineries in Turkey are reducing their purchases of Russian raw materials due to international sanctions against Lukoil and Rosneft. In this context, Turkish companies are beginning to use oil from Kazakhstan and other countries, reports Orda.kz.
According to information from Reuters, Turkey, being one of the main importers of Russian oil, is starting to seek alternative sources of supply. This decision is a consequence of the economic sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union against Russia.
For example, one of Turkey's leading refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by the Azerbaijani state company SOCAR, recently received four shipments of oil from Kazakhstan, Iraq, and other countries. The volumes of these shipments range from 77 to 129 thousand barrels per day. Previously, this refinery primarily used Russian oil, purchasing about 210 thousand barrels per day in September-October.
“One of the four oil shipments is a cargo from the Kazakh company KEBCO, which is comparable in quality to Russian Urals, but produced in Kazakhstan. This year, the STAR refinery imported only one shipment of Kazakh raw materials, and in 2024 it did not purchase any,” reports Reuters, citing two sources.
The company Tüpraş, another major player in oil refining, is also increasing its purchases of oil similar in quality to Urals. According to Reuters, the company is considering supplies from Iraq, Brazil, and Angola, but may also turn its attention to Kazakhstan in the future.
Currently, Russia accounts for 47% of the total volume of oil imported by Turkey. From January to October of this year, the republic received 669 thousand barrels per day, including 317 thousand from the Russian Federation.
Turkey is one of the main importers of Kazakh oil, purchasing three percent of the total volume of supplies from the country. In 2024, Turkey acquired two million tons of raw materials from Kazakhstan, and in 2025 its share may increase.
