Reuters: Turkey continues to import Russian oil despite US pressure
The latest shipping data released by the "London Exchanges Group", alongside information from market sources, revealed that Turkey aims to maintain its imports of Russian Urals crude oil during October at a level of 280,000 barrels per day, the same level it maintained last month.
The sources added, in statements reported by the "Reuters" agency, that total Russian oil exports to Ankara during October may exceed September levels, with expectations of sending more shipments in the coming weeks of this month.
This continued flow of Russian oil to Turkey comes at a time when US President Donald Trump is intensifying his pressure campaign on major importers of Russian oil, led by India and Turkey, as part of Western efforts to undermine Russian revenues and pressure Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.
According to data from the "London Exchanges Group", Turkey has become one of the largest importers of Russian oil since 2022, when European countries suspended their imports of Russian crude. Since then, Ankara has ranked second in the list of the largest buyers of seaborne Urals crude, just after India, and this crude is Russia's main export medium.
Market traders attributed, in statements to "Reuters", the continued purchases of Russian crude by Turkish refineries to its "price attractiveness compared to other types of crude available in the Mediterranean market."
It is noteworthy that President Trump stated on September 26, after his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that he believes Turkey will respond to his request to stop importing oil from Russia. Trump said, referring to Erdogan: "I think he will stop that."
However, the latest shipping data and forecasts indicate that Turkish demand for Russian oil continues to this day, contrary to US expectations.
