Turkey blocks transit of exported products to Russia under Western pressure

A ship in the Sea of Marmara in Turkish waters. © Khalil Hamra / AP

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Until a few weeks ago, Turkey was one of the preferred gateways to Russia for products targeted by international sanctions. But since the beginning of March, Turkey has hardened its policy and no longer allows the transit of these products to Russia.

Advertising

Read more

With our correspondent in Istanbul, Anne Andlauer

Turkey does not enforce international sanctions, but it had pledged to its partners not to help Russia circumvent them. However, products under sanctions continued to transit through its territory. Turkish customs no longer allow this, confirms Akif Demiral, a customs broker in Istanbul: "Regardless of their country of origin, it is now completely forbidden to transit these products to Russia. Most of it used to be by sea.

However, the new customs restrictions do not apply to goods exported from Turkey. "It is therefore possible to import goods into Turkey and then re-export them to Russia," notes Akif Demiral. Russian companies that want to do so, however, must own or set up a company in Turkey, or have a partnership with a company established in Turkey in order to export. Meanwhile, containers are piling up in ports, which of course increases costs.

Deprived of their Turkish transit platform, Russian companies are looking for other routes, especially via Kazakhstan. But as Akif Diral observes, given its geographical position and logistical infrastructure, it will not be easy to find an alternative to Turkey.

► READ ALSO: Towards a suspension of the global grain agreement involving Turkey, Russia and Ukraine?

Newsletter Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

Read on on the same topics:

• Turkey
• Russia
• Recep Tayyip Erdogan
• Vladimir Poutine