Turkey trims Russian oil imports as Black Sea disruptions bite

Turkey significantly reduced its purchases of Russian crude in July and is expected to cut them further this month, as Ukrainian drone attacks disrupted loadings from key Black Sea terminals, according to traders and shipping data.

Imports from Russian ports fell to roughly 900,000 tonnes in July, down from 1.2 million tonnes in June. Supplies from Black Sea ports specifically dropped to just over 300,000 tonnes, compared with 600,000 tonnes the previous month.

The disruptions stem from intensified Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia's Black Sea infrastructure in July. These attacks forced a one-week suspension of exports from the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal and caused unstable loadings at Novorossiysk port. As a result, CPC loadings fell by a fifth in July.

For August, data suggests Turkey will receive only about 200,000 tonnes from Russia's Black Sea ports. The two tankers expected to arrive will carry Kazakh KEBCO crude, with no CPC Blend or Urals loadings to Turkey currently planned, though the data may be revised.

Traders say Turkey is diversifying its supply sources to offset the impact of the Black Sea crisis, including making rare imports from Brazil and Guyana this month.

The CPC pipeline, which carries about 1.8% of global oil supply from Kazakhstan to Russia's Black Sea coast, has faced disruptions since mid-July, compounding broader supply concerns. Turkey has also criticised attacks on Russia-linked tankers near its waters, calling them alarming and a threat to navigational safety and regional commerce.

Meanwhile, reports indicate Ukraine has paused drone strikes on non-Russian tankers using the CPC terminal following a request from U.S. Vice President JD Vance.