Türkiye’s largest oil refiner Tupras resumes Russian crude imports as prices fall below G7 cap
File photo shows a close-up view of a Tupras oil storage tank, accessed on Mar. 17, 2025. (AA Photo)
Tupras, Türkiye’s largest oil refiner, has resumed purchases of Russian Urals crude oil, trading sources said, marking a shift from its earlier halt on imports following strengthened U.S. sanctions.
According to three trading sources speaking to Reuters and shipping data reviewed once again by Reuters, Tupras restarted imports in April after Urals crude prices dropped to their lowest levels since 2023—comfortably below the G7 nations’ price cap of $60 per barrel.
The G7, along with the EU and Australia, enforces a price cap that prohibits the use of Western maritime services—including insurance, flagging, and transportation—for Russian oil sold at or above $60 per barrel. Since October, the U.S. Treasury has sanctioned numerous tankers suspected of breaching this cap.
Tupras did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Sanctions pressure prompted previous halt in February
Tupras, officially known as Türkiye Petrol Rafinerileri AS, had been among the top importers of Russian crude.
By January–November 2024, Russian oil accounted for 65% of Türkiye’s total crude imports, according to Türkiye’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA).
| Crude Oil | Diesel Types | Aviation Fuels | Marine Fuels | Other Products | Total | Share (%) | |
| Russia | 10.707.120,64 | 10.197.766,87 | 630.937,77 | 38.751,47 | 3.418.376,38 | 24.992.953,13 | 51,01 |
However, in February 2025, the company halted Russian oil purchases. The decision followed the U.S. Treasury Department’s expanded sanctions package announced on Jan. 10, which targeted Russian exports and sanctioned multiple tankers accused of breaching the G7-imposed price cap.
A Bloomberg report from February noted that Tupras began cutting back imports and stopped accepting non-compliant shipments after Feb. 27.
Urals crude price drop sparks renewed interest
Sources told Reuters that Tupras is scheduled to receive at least two shipments of Russian Urals crude with April loading dates.
Tracking data from Kpler shows that one shipment aboard the Nissos Christiana carried approximately 730,000 barrels of Urals crude from Ust-Luga, Russia, on April 3. The cargo is expected to arrive at Tupras’ 225,800-barrel-per-day refinery in Izmit on April 21.
It remains unclear whether another vessel has been arranged for the second cargo, according to shipping sources.
Shift to alternative sources during pause
Following the suspension of Russian imports, Tupras diversified its crude sources. In March and April, imports reportedly included cargoes from Guyana, Nigeria, Libya, and Norway.
The company also made its first-ever purchase of Brazilian crude in March, according to shipping and trade data.
Tupras operates two major refineries in Türkiye—Izmit and Izmir—with a combined processing capacity of 467,300 barrels per day, as reported by LSEG data.
