Turkey’s Group III base oils imports fell in May to their lowest level in almost five years as Europe's moves to replace lost Middle East supplies increasingly reduced availability for other buyers.

Total base oils imports fell 31% from a year earlier to around 38,000 tonnes, extending their year-on-year decline for the eighth time in nine months, Turkish Statistical Institute data showed.

Group III imports from Europe and the Middle East combined fell even more sharply to their lowest level since October 2021.

The bigger Group III shortfall came from Europe, not the Middle East, whose disruption redirected more European Group III supply toward northwest Europe, leaving Turkey short from both sources at the same time.

Key Highlights

·         Premium-grade imports from Spain dropped to their lowest level in six years.

·         Premium-grade imports from Russia held more than 50% below average 2025 levels for a second straight month.

·         Total premium-grade imports fell to their lowest level in 21 months.

·         Total Group I imports fell to a three-month low even as combined shipments from Egypt and Turkmenistan rose to their second-highest level in more than three years.

Market Repercussions

Turkey's premium-grade market showed the secondary effects of the Middle East disruption more than the direct loss of supplies from the region.

European producers retained more Group III volumes within the region, reducing flows to export buyers such as Turkey that had been bracing for a shortfall from the Middle East.

Spain concentrated almost all its Group III exports on northwest Europe in June, pointing to Turkey's Group III supply from Europe remaining under pressure at least into the start of the third quarter.

Premium-grade shipments from Russia also fell, further reducing Turkey's alternative supply options even before the full effect of lower Middle East shipments emerged.