Key facts
- Vitol and Heritage Petroleum FZCO supplied 11% of Israel's crude imports between October 2023 and June 2026, totaling approximately 22 million barrels.
- Most oil shipped by these companies flows through Turkey's Ceyhan port, despite Turkey's trade embargo against Israel.
- Heritage Petroleum, founded in December 2023, quickly became Israel's second-largest crude supplier.
- Vitol has a history of controversies, including a guilty plea for kickbacks in 2007.
- The report highlights the opacity of Heritage Petroleum's operations.
Two little-known oil traders, Vitol and Heritage Petroleum FZCO, have been identified as major suppliers of crude oil to Israel, according to a report by Oil Change International (OCI) and the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO). Between October 2023 and June 2026, these companies collectively exported approximately 22 million barrels to Israel, representing 11 percent of the country's total crude imports.
The report highlights that the majority of oil shipped by Vitol and Heritage flows through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, despite Turkey's embargo against Israel. Researchers also identified two subsidiaries of Heritage Petroleum in the Turkish trade registry, Shiptech Maritime Ltd. and Limosa Trading Logistics Inc.
Swiss-based Vitol, a leading oil trader, shipped nearly 14 million barrels to Israel during the period. The company has a history of controversies, including a guilty plea in 2007 for paying kickbacks. Vitol stated it operates in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and denied profiting from war.
Heritage Petroleum, founded in December 2023, quickly emerged as Israel's second-largest supplier of crude oil, chartering its first shipment in November 2024. OCI noted Heritage's operations are opaque, with its board and significant controllers unknown. All of Heritage's chartered shipments departed from Turkish ports.
A Turkish foreign ministry source stated that no vessel loading from Ceyhan is authorized for delivery to Israel, but acknowledged that ownership of cargo can be transferred to third-party buyers while in transit, potentially changing the final destination. The source also clarified that Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) has a minority stake in the pipeline and no commercial involvement in oil sales.
The report emphasizes that imported crude oil is refined in Israel and supplied to the military, with refineries like Bazan Group explicitly stating they supply the Israeli military. The findings raise questions about the efficacy of Turkey's trade ban enforcement.