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

Turkey's thermal coal imports reached their lowest level since 2022 in the first eight months of 2026, falling by 18.77% compared to the same period a year earlier. Record hydropower output played a significant role in curbing coal-fired generation, while supply disruptions and weak plant economics also contributed. In the January-August period, total thermal coal imports amounted to 19.9 million metric tons.

A UAE-based trader attributed the decline in imports to the improved performance of hydro generation. The drop in coal imports reflected weaker output from thermal coal power plants, as renewables generation surged to a multiyear high, driven primarily by record hydroelectric generation following a dry 2025 season. Coal generation from imported steam coal and domestic hard coal fell below 2 terawatt-hours in May 2026, the lowest monthly level since April 2013.

The decline in coal generation was driven by stable coal-fired power demand, a sharp rise in hydroelectric generation, and an increase in wind generation. Power generation from hard coal, lignite, and imported coal dropped to 67.2 TWh in the first eight months of 2026 from 77.9 TWh in the same period last year. In contrast, renewables generation surged above 60% of total power generation in Turkey during the same period.

The International Energy Agency noted that Turkey's coal-fired power plant operators were unable to benefit from a fall in gas prices, which remained behind in the merit order.