Turkey’s Jan-Aug thermal coal imports hit four-year low amid record hydro output

Turkey’s thermal coal imports fell to their lowest January-August level since 2022, as record hydropower output curtailed coal-fired generation, while supply disruptions and weak plant economics also weighed on shipments, even as the fuel retained a competitive edge over gas-fired generation amid ongoing geopolitical turmoil.

Total thermal coal imports in the January-August period stood at 19.9 million metric tons, down 18.77% from the year-ago period and the lowest level since 2022, when Turkey imported 17 million mt in the first eight months of 2026, according to Turkish Statistical Institute data.

“The fall in Turkey’s thermal coal imports is pretty much due to the better-performing hydro generation,” a UAE-based trader said.

The drop in import volumes reflected weaker thermal coal power output during the period, as generation from renewables soared to a multiyear high, driven primarily by record hydrogeneration following a subdued 2025 output due to droughts in parts of the country.

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