Azerbaijan became Czech Republic’s largest oil supplier last year as Russia’s share fell to a minimum

Azerbaijan was the Czech Republic’s largest oil supplier last year, accounting for more than 42 percent of imported crude. This ended Russia’s long-standing position as the Czech Republic’s main oil supplier. Russia’s share, by contrast, fell to 7.7 percent, with more oil also arriving from Norway, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia, for example. This was mainly due to an increase in the capacity of the TAL pipeline and the end of deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline in spring. This follows from statistics by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO).

Overall, more than 6.85 million tonnes of crude oil were imported into the Czech Republic last year, up 5.5 percent year on year.

Until the year before last, Russia had traditionally been the Czech Republic’s largest oil supplier. In 2024, Russian crude accounted for 42 percent, and its share had exceeded 50 percent in earlier years. Last year, it was just under eight percent, or 527,000 tonnes of crude. These imports came primarily during the first two months of the year; supplies through Russia’s Druzhba pipeline were halted at the beginning of last March and have not resumed since.

Azerbaijan became the largest supplier last year, with a 42 percent share. Some 2.9 million tonnes of crude arrived last year from the Caspian Sea country, 10 percent more than a year earlier. Azerbaijan’s share had also increased in previous years, reaching almost 40 percent in 2024.

Supplies from other countries also rose. Norway was the second-largest supplier last year, with a share of around one-fifth. Its share increased sharply last year. While more than 1.43 million tonnes of crude arrived from Norway last year, the figure was only 103,000 tonnes the year before. Kazakhstan ranked third last year, with an 18 percent share. Imports from Kazakhstan rose 20 percent year on year to 1.26 million tonnes. Saudi Arabia, with approximately ten percent, also ranked ahead of Russia last year. It supplied a total of 729,000 tonnes of crude, while no oil arrived from Saudi Arabia the year before.

The overall redirection of imports also logically changed the use of the country’s two oil pipelines. More than 92 percent of crude arrived via the IKL pipeline, which runs from Germany, where it connects to Italy’s TAL pipeline. The remainder came through Druzhba, which has been halted for more than a year.

The TAL pipeline starts in Trieste, where oil is imported from multiple countries and continents. The largest share consists of supplies from areas around the Caspian and Black Seas, the US and Africa. Following last year’s end to supplies through Russia’s Druzhba pipeline, it is currently the Czech Republic’s sole source of oil. After last year’s expansion, it can supply up to eight million tonnes of crude to the Czech Republic annually.

Due to a reduction in TAL supplies at the end of March this year, the government approved a loan of 100,000 tonnes of oil from emergency reserves for domestic refineries operated by Orlen Unipetrol, an amount sufficient for around four days of operations. Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček (ANO) said the pipeline restrictions were due to maintenance and reconstruction work that had been planned long in advance. According to Seznam Zprávy, however, the pipeline was out of operation for five days due to damage to a power line. During that time, the Czech Republic drew oil from storage facilities in Germany. The pipeline is now operational again.

Oil prices on international markets have risen sharply as a result of the current conflict in the Middle East. Around 27 percent of global oil production, mainly bound for Asia, comes from the region. Although the Czech Republic’s dependence on oil supplies from this area is minimal, shortages on other markets are driving up oil prices worldwide.