Record diesel purchases from non‑Russian sources
Maritime Logistics Professional reports that in August Turkey imported more than 120,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Indian diesel and 90,000 bpd from the United States, according to Kpler’s commodities data. Those figures represent the highest monthly totals on record since Kpler began tracking volumes in 2017.
MarineLink notes a more modest estimate from Energy Aspects – 74,000 bpd of Indian diesel and 70,000 bpd of U.S. product for the same month. While both data sets agree that August marked a peak, the discrepancy highlights the challenges of real‑time flow monitoring in a volatile market.
Why the shift? Russian ban and Middle East turmoil
Baird Maritime explains that Russia imposed an export ban on diesel that will remain in force until at least the end of August, following Ukrainian strikes that damaged several Russian refineries. The ban has cut off a traditional supply pillar for Turkey.
Compounding the shortfall, the ongoing Iran war has damaged oil‑refinery capacity in the region and reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. “With Russian refinery disruptions and export restrictions, Turkey is having to scramble for barrels from the non‑Russian pool,” said Sparta Commodities analyst Abhishek Kumar, as quoted by Baird Maritime.
Changing import composition
The same source shows that Turkish imports of Russian diesel fell sharply – from roughly 200,000 bpd in the early months of the year to about 100,000 bpd in July and just 80,000 bpd in August. Consequently, Russia’s share of Turkey’s diesel intake dropped to around 20 % for August.
For context, Turkey’s energy regulator recorded that in 2025 Russian shipments accounted for 85 % of the nation’s diesel imports, delivering an average of 281,000 bpd. Industry insiders suggest the current ban could be extended into September, further accelerating the diversification trend.
Implications for tanker traffic
Both Maritime Logistics Professional and MarineLink observe that the surge in U.S. and Indian shipments is already reflected in increased tanker call‑outs at Turkish terminals, particularly those handling product grades suitable for diesel blending. Vessel owners are reporting tighter scheduling windows as charterers vie for limited space on high‑capacity LR2 and MR tankers.
Energy Aspects data – referenced by Baird Maritime – indicates that the higher import levels are still below pre‑ban volumes, suggesting that while alternative sources are filling a gap, total diesel throughput into Turkey remains constrained.
What this means for operators
Ship operators should anticipate sustained demand for medium‑range product tankers servicing Turkish ports through the remainder of 2026. With Russian supplies curtailed and Middle‑East routes intermittently disrupted, charter parties are likely to include higher freight rates and tighter lay‑time clauses. Operators with flexible routing capabilities between Indian, U.S., and Mediterranean hubs will be best positioned to capture the shifting cargo flows, while those reliant on single‑source contracts may need to renegotiate terms or seek supplemental volumes from emerging non‑Russian suppliers.
