Turkey boosts natural gas imports in May, reduces oil consumption
Turkey has witnessed a significant increase in natural gas consumption and a decrease in crude oil imports in May 2025, according to recent data.
Natural gas consumption totaled 4.09 billion cubic meters (bcm) in May, marking a 28% year-over-year increase. This surge is primarily driven by rising demand in the power sector, particularly during heatwaves and peak electricity load periods.
Azerbaijan was the second-largest pipeline source with 1.06 bcm of natural gas, followed by Russia, which was the largest pipeline source with 1.19 bcm. Turkey also imported natural gas from Iran, Turkmenistan, Algeria, and the United States.
However, natural gas storage volumes declined 20.2% year-over-year to 2.94 bcm at the end of May. Simultaneously, total petroleum product exports fell by 17.6% year-over-year to 1.28 million metric tons during the same period.
Crude oil imports totaled 2.48 million metric tons in May, a decrease of 13.2% compared to the same period the previous year. Diesel-type fuels accounted for 1.16 million tons of the total imports.
Turkey's overall annual natural gas consumption is approximately 60 billion cubic meters, with consumption trends shaped by expanding electricity demand and the transport sector’s electrification. Natural gas plays a crucial role in Turkey’s energy mix, accounting for about 23% of energy generation in 2022.
The country relies heavily on imports to meet its needs, sourcing pipeline gas and LNG primarily from Russia and other suppliers, given insufficient domestic production. In 2025, Turkey announced a notable 75 bcm gas discovery at the Göktepe-3 well, but domestic supply remains limited relative to demand.
Looking forward, Turkey’s future production goals include expanding domestic gas exploration and production, such as the recent Göktepe-3 discovery, but without a rapid expansion of renewables and nuclear capacity, natural gas is expected to remain a key energy source for peak electricity and grid reliability until 2050. Import dependence and geopolitical constraints continue to challenge Turkey’s ambition to become a regional energy hub.
Summary Table of Key Points
| Aspect | Details | |-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2025 Natural Gas Consumption | 35.3 bcm (Jan-July 2025), annual ~60 bcm total | | Trend Drivers | Rising electricity demand, heatwaves, low hydropower/wind output | | Energy Mix Role | 23% share in 2022, down from 48% in 2014 | | Domestic Production | Limited; 75 bcm discovery at Göktepe-3 announced in 2025 | | Import Dependence | Heavy reliance on pipeline and LNG imports, notably from Russia | | Future Outlook | Natural gas key for power generation growth, peak load support until 2050 | | Policy Factors | Price hikes for residential/industrial users (2025), inflation impact | | Geopolitical Constraints | Import supply uncertainties, limited control over market dynamics via domestic production|
- President Erdogan has acknowledged the significant growth in Turkey's natural gas consumption and the decrease in crude oil imports, particularly in May 2025.
- The Turkish industry, including business and finance sectors, is affected by the high demand for natural gas, as Turkey relies heavily on imports to meet the growing energy needs.
- Russia remains the largest supplier of pipeline gas to Turkey, accounting for a large share of Turkish natural gas imports, which also include supplies from Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Algeria, and the United States.
- Despite the discovery of a notable gas deposit at the Göktepe-3 well in 2025, domestic gas production still remains insufficient to meet Turkey's energy demands, posing a challenge to Turkey's ambition to become a regional energy hub.
