ISTANBUL
gasimports increase by 36% in March, according to EPDK
Turkey's natural gas imports surged by 35.9 percent in March 2025 compared to the same month in 2024, reaching a total volume of 6.43 billion cubic meters (bcm), according to data from Turkey's energy watchdog, the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK).
The surge in imports was driven by both pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. Pipeline imports accounted for 3.39 bcm, an increase from approximately 5.99 bcm imported in the same period last year. The majority of pipeline gas was imported from Russia (1.79 bcm), Azerbaijan (1.04 bcm), and Iran (561 mcm).
LNG imports, on the other hand, totaled 2.60 bcm. The largest portion of this was imported from the United States (1.49 bcm), followed by Algeria (642 mcm), Nigeria (210 mcm), Cameroon (191 mcm), and Greece (66 mcm).
Turkey's overall gas consumption increased by 22.3 percent to 7.08 bcm in March 2025. Household consumption saw a notable spike of 35.9 percent, reaching 3.83 bcm, while industrial consumption increased by a marginal 0.5 percent to 1.16 bcm. Gas consumption in power plants increased by 7.7 percent to 870 million cubic meters during the same period.
Contrary to the rising imports, Turkey's natural gas storage declined by 26.6 percent to around 3.04 bcm compared to the previous year.
The increase in natural gas imports indicates a growing domestic demand, particularly in households, and a diversified source of imports. The primary countries supplying pipeline gas were Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran, while the U.S. and Algeria were the main suppliers of LNG.
Local developments in Turkey's natural gas sector include new discoveries in the Black Sea, such as the Göktepe-3 well, which added 75 bcm to Turkey's reserves, bringing the total to around 785 bcm. This increase supports Turkey's ambition to achieve energy independence and become a regional gas export hub. Domestic production, however, is expected to incrementally increase over the coming years, with significant increases predicted for 2026 and 2028.
In response to escalating domestic demand, particularly in households, Turkey's natural gas imports significantly expanded, with the industry sector demonstrating a slight increase as well. Notably, the finance sector might also be affected, as the surge in imports could influence the country's energy expenditure in the upcoming months.
