Turkey ranks 3rd worldwide with LNG import rises in 2020

Turkey ranked third in the world after China and India with an annual growth of 1.3 million tonnes in LNG imports in 2020, according to the latest report of the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (GIIGNL).

China ranked first with imports of 7.2 million tonnes last year followed by India with 2.6 million tonnes.

The report also showed that Turkey became the fourth-largest LNG importer in Europe.

Turkey was followed by Taiwan with an increase of 1.1 million tonnes, South Korea with an increase of 700 thousand tonnes, and Thailand with an increase of 600 thousand tonnes.

Mexico and France were the countries that decreased LNG imports the most.

Turkey imported a total of 10.72 million tonnes of LNG last year: 3.96 million tonnes of LNG were imported from Algeria and 1.32 million tonnes from Nigeria. Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Cameroon, Norway, Egypt, the US and Trinidad and Tobago also supplied LNG to Turkey.

According to the report, 2020 was a year of two halves for Europe's LNG imports.

"During the first half, the region acted as a market of last resort. During the second half, Europe recorded a decrease in LNG imports compared to the previous year due to a decrease in demand for natural gas because of lockdowns, while storages filled up and US cargoes were canceled," it said.

It was noted that the greatest declines in net LNG imports were seen in France by 16.1% and Belgium by 36.9%.

However, Turkey recorded the highest increase at 14.4% by 1.35 million tonnes, the report showed.

Turkey's LNG policy

Wishing to diversify its energy resources, Turkey has focused on the use of domestic and renewable resources in recent years. The country, which diversifies...