(MENAFN) Official data showed that Turkey's purchases of Iranian crude oil have dropped to the lowest level in two and half years in July, complying with the Western sanctions on the Islamic Republic over its controversial nuclear programme, Reuters reported.
Turkey has imported just over 48,000 barrels bpd of Iranian crude in July, the lowest since December 2009, and far down from 167,000 bpd in June, and a fraction of Turkey's 2011 average of 180,000 bpd, trading figures disclosed.
Turkey's sole refiner Tupras had to further lower Iranian oil imports than promised, as the EU embargo have stopped European firms, which dominate the marine insurance sector, from offering cover on Iranian crude. The EU oil embargo took effect from July 1.
Tupras was forced to use Iranian-owned tankers to lift the crude accumulating at the Egyptian port of Sidi Kerir, the end of the Sumed pipeline, an alternative route for crude oil coming from the Arab Gulf into the Mediterranean.
The US gave Turkey a 180-day exception from sanctions from June 11 as a result of an initial 20 percent cut made by Tupras.
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