Turkey replaces Russian oil and diesel imports from US as wars reverberate

Turkey is now sourcing more oil and diesel from the United States, despite extending a natural gas deal with Russia, as conflicts continue to impact global energy markets. Recent Turkish customs data reveals that the US has surpassed Russia as Turkey's main crude oil supplier, with approximately 570,000 tonnes of crude oil arriving from the US in June compared to 425,000 from Russia.

Additionally, Turkey has been increasing its diesel imports from both the US and India, with over 120,000 barrels per day from India and 90,000 bpd from the US since August, according to energy analytics firm Kpler. This shift in energy imports is primarily driven by three factors: the US administration's efforts to increase Turkey's energy purchases, Russia's disrupted energy industry due to Ukrainian attacks, and the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The Trump administration previously urged Turkey to reduce its reliance on Russian energy during Erdogan's visit to the White House in September 2025. In 2024, Turkey received 41 percent of its gas imports from Russia, which primarily supported its manufacturing sector and helped counteract double-digit inflation. Turkey has also positioned the TurkStream Pipeline as a potential alternative energy route to European markets amidst international sanctions.