Turkish energy firm Tupras has confirmed that it placed orders for four Suezmax tankers through its maritime subsidiary Ditas Maritime Operations and Tanker Management (hereinafter "Ditas"), with the official total exceeding the previously reported two vessels.

Earlier, foreign media reported that Ditas had ordered two Suezmax tankers at South Korea's Daehan Shipbuilding, scheduled for delivery by December 2029.

In a statement released on July 31, Tupras said it had contracted to build four new 157,000-dwt Suezmax tankers, all to be constructed in South Korea. The investment exceeds $370 million, with all four vessels planned for delivery in 2029.

The orders for the remaining two ships are believed to be linked to another Korean shipyard. On August 3, Samsung Heavy Industries disclosed that it had signed a contract with an undisclosed European owner to build two crude oil tankers, valued at approximately $186 million, with delivery expected by August 2029. Shipbrokers and market sources confirmed that the buyer in this transaction is Ditas.

Tupras emphasized that this investment is part of its "Future Energy Strategy," aimed at enhancing the company's crude oil transport capacity while strengthening supply security and logistics flexibility.

Tupras also confirmed that Ditas has taken delivery of a new 114,800-dwt Aframax tanker, the "T Riva," making the subsidiary the owner of Turkey's largest tanker fleet. Earlier shipbroking sources had indicated that the resale transaction was agreed at around $90 million.

According to Clarksons data, Ditas currently operates a fleet of 25 vessels, including two Suezmax tankers built in 2017. The data also show that the company is building two 12,000-dwt chemical carriers at a Turkish shipyard.

Tupras operates four refineries in Turkey, located in İzmit, İzmir, Kırıkkale, and Batman, with a combined annual crude processing capacity of 30 million metric tons. As of 2025, the company sources 31 different grades of crude oil from 16 countries, including Turkey, and exports refined products to markets in Europe, Africa, and other regions around the world.