Turkey's base oils imports fell for a seventh time in eight months, while Group I shipments declined for a ninth straight month
Lower imports from Russia accelerated Turkey's shift toward European and alternative suppliers such as Turkmenistan
Rising Russian prices eroded their cost advantage, weakening one of Turkey's key sources of competitively priced supply.
Turkey's base oils imports fell for a seventh time in eight months in April, as simultaneous supply disruptions from Russia and the Middle East tightened availability and deepened reliance on a tightening European market.
Total imports fell to 47,500 tonnes, down 18% from a year earlier, Turkish Statistical Institute data showed. The contraction was the seventh in eight months.
Russia and the Middle East had together covered almost half of Turkey's import requirements in recent years.
War-related refinery disruptions and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz were now curtailing flows from both sources simultaneously, narrowing Turkey's options and increasing exposure to European supply.
Key Highlights
· Group I imports fell to 23,000 tonnes, declining year on year for a ninth straight month.
· Premium-grade imports fell to 24,000 tonnes, although they accounted for more than half of total imports for the second time in four months, after exceeding that share only twice in all of 2024 and 2025.
· Middle East supplies accounted for just 5.7% of imports, the lowest share in more than two years, as Qatar shipments fell.
· Russia's share held at 23% of total imports, staying sharply below 2024 and 2025 levels, while Europe's share rose to 47%, well above recent norms.
· Imports from Turkmenistan exceeded 4,000 tonnes, the highest volume in at least four years.
Market Repercussions
The premium of Italian Group I base oils over Russian imports fell to its lowest level in more than a year, pointing to tighter Russian availability.
The slowdown in Middle East flows reflected the gradual pass-through of Hormuz-related disruptions to Group III supply since end-February.
The twin disruptions compounded supply tightness, increasing Turkey’s dependence on supply from other sources, especially Europe.
That growing reliance carried its own risk. European Group I availability tightened in recent months amid plant maintenance and surging regional demand, while higher prices incentivised refiners to keep surplus volumes in the region.
Turkey's higher domestic Group I output helped offset part of the decline in imports. But rising domestic requirements cut export volumes for other markets, adding to tighter availability across the region.
Lower premium-grade imports from the Middle East increased the importance of alternative Group III supply sources, at a time when demand for such shipments was increasing across Europe and other importing regions.