Economy
The ‘Hazarly’ gas field strengthens Turkmenistan's energy potential
19.01.2026The ‘Türkmengeologiýa’ State Corporation strengthens Turkmenistan's economy and energy independence. The industrial gas flow from exploration well No. 2 at the ‘Hazarly’ field was an important step in increasing reserves and confirmed the high potential of the Mary velayat fields, according to the news website Asmannews. After measurements and laboratory analysis of the gas, preparations will begin to connect the well to the unified gas transportation system. The new flow will support domestic consumption and key export destinations, primarily the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline and, in the future, the TAPI route. The successes are linked to the modernisation of the ‘Marynebitgazgözleg’ expedition and the introduction of modern technologies, including high-powered digitally controlled drilling rigs capable of operating at depths of up to 7,000 metres. ‘Türkmengeologiýa’s plans for the future are focused on increasing gas reserves and digitising geological exploration, which is in line with the country's energy strategy.
Turkmenistan discussed the textile market with companies from Turkey and Switzerland
19.01.2026Representatives of the Ministry of Textile Industry of Turkmenistan discussed the current state and prospects of the global spinning market with the Turkish company ‘Burteks Tekstil’ and the Swiss company ‘Rieter’. This was reported by the online publication ‘Business Turkmenistan’. The meeting took place during the ‘Heimtextil 2026’ exhibition, held in Frankfurt from 13 to 16 January. ‘Rieter’ supplies equipment and systems for yarn production, including the processing of natural and synthetic fibres, used in factories around the world. ‘Burteks Tekstil’ specialises in the production and supply of textile products with an emphasis on quality and modern technology.
The ‘Guwlyduz’ enterprise produced 97,000 tonnes of salt in 2025
17.01.2026On the shores of the Caspian Sea, in the village of Guwlymayak, lies the ‘Guwlyduz’ enterprise, the largest and oldest salt producer in Turkmenistan. In 2025, production exceeded 97,000 tonnes, which was 102.2% of the plan, according to the Orient news agency. The ‘Guwly’ deposit is one of the largest in the world. Here, salt is formed naturally: seawater evaporates in the estuaries under the sun and wind, leaving pure crystals. Due to this, the salt does not require deep chemical purification and retains microelements that are useful for both food and industry. In 2025, 97,053 tonnes of salt were produced: 86,270 tonnes of coarse industrial salt and 23,000 tonnes of packaged food-grade salt, which is supplied throughout the country. Production is carried out in compliance with environmental standards, preserving the natural balance of the region. ‘Guwlyduz’ products are used not only in cooking. Pure salt is in demand in the textile industry, medicine, balneotherapy and the oil and gas sector. The entire extraction process requires almost no electricity — the main ‘worker’ is the sun, which turns seawater into crystals that are collected by special harvesters.
Russian Ambassador: Agreement on Turkmen-Russian university nears completion
17.01.2026The draft inter-governmental agreement on the establishment of a Turkmen-Russian university in Ashgabat is in its final stages. This was announced by Russian Ambassador to Turkmenistan Ivan Volynkin, according to Turkmenportal. According to him, the document defines the conditions for the creation and operation of the Russian-Turkmen university in the capital of Turkmenistan. Ivan Volynkin noted that more than 54,000 students from Turkmenistan are studying at Russian universities. In 2025, the Russian Federation government's quota for Turkmen applicants was 500 state-funded places. Also on the agenda is a project to build a new building for the lower grades of the A.S. Pushkin Joint Turkmen-Russian Secondary School, which has been operating since 2002. The Ambassador said that in 2025, Russian-Turkmen cooperation in the cultural sphere remained active. More than 190 humanitarian events were held, attended by about 16,000 people. He separately noted the interest of the Ashgabat audience in the Russian Embassy's musical project ‘Diplomaticheskiye notki’ (Diplomatic musical notes), which included concerts featuring works by Russian classics.
The ‘Made in Turkmenistan’ brand presented textiles at an exhibition in Germany
17.01.2026From 13 to 16 January, Germany hosted the world's largest textile exhibition, ‘Heimtextil 2026’. For the Ministry of Textile Industry of Turkmenistan, participation in the event marked a strong international start to the year: the Made in Turkmenistan brand confirmed its competitiveness, according to the Orient news agency. Digital printing, which allows complex patterns and designer images to be applied with high precision, attracted particular attention at the Turkmenistan stand. This opens up opportunities for personalised textiles and interiors with long-lasting designs. Among 3,000 participants from 65 countries, Turkmen manufacturers held successful negotiations with buyers and designers, demonstrating the industry's readiness for global integration. The Frankfurt experience will be followed by ‘TurkmenTextile Expo 2026’ in Ashgabat (4–6 June), where foreign partners are invited to implement global trends in Central Asia.
Turkmenistan entered the top 10 countries in terms of imports to Uzbekistan
16.01.2026Turkmenistan entered the top ten largest suppliers of goods to Uzbekistan in January–November 2025. This was reported by ‘Business Turkmenistan’, citing a report by the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan. Imports from Turkmenistan amounted to US$926.2 million. The country ranked eighth among Uzbekistan's trading partners. The top ten also included China (US$12.8 billion), Russia (US$7.8 billion), Kazakhstan (US$3 billion), Turkey (US$1.7 billion), South Korea (US$1.5 billion), Germany and India (US$1 billion each), Belarus (US$698.8 million) and the United States (US$656.1 million). Uzbekistan's total imports for the reporting period reached US$41.9 billion, which is 18.7 per cent more than a year earlier. Supplies were made from 180 countries. Trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan for January–November 2025 amounted to $1.064 billion.
Turkmenistan modernises its fleet of high-tech agricultural machinery
15.01.2026Turkmenistan continues to actively upgrade its agricultural machinery with a view to improving the efficiency of field work and implementing agro-industrial projects. This was reported by the news website Asmannews. In 2025, 400 sprayers and 400 mineral fertiliser spreaders from ‘John Deere’ were purchased to modernise the agricultural sector. New ploughing tractors and grain harvesters from various manufacturers are also expected to be delivered in the near future. Today, modern grain and cotton harvesters, tractors and trailer equipment are used in Turkmen fields, ensuring the smooth running of sowing and harvesting campaigns. The machine and tractor fleet is based on multifunctional ‘John Deere’ models and ‘Claas’ harvesters. The renewal of the technical base and the introduction of automation and telematics reduce the burden on farmers and increase productivity, which is considered one of the strategic directions for the development of agriculture in Turkmenistan.
Environmental transformation: Turkmenbashi Port implements ‘smart’ technologies
15.01.2026The Turkmenbashi International Seaport will be part of a large-scale environmental transformation. As part of a five-year OSCE project, the Italian company RINA and the German company ‘HPC Hamburg Port Consulting’ will help the port implement ‘smart’ and ‘green’ technologies, according to the news agency Orient. The programme provides for a transition to renewable energy, digital monitoring of environmental impact, improving the energy efficiency of infrastructure, and training Turkmen specialists in international environmental management standards. The growth of transit flows along the ‘Lapis Lazuli’ and ‘North-South’ routes makes the port's environmental status a competitive advantage, attracting carriers focused on sustainable development. Similar projects are being implemented in the ports of Baku, Aktau, Kuryk and Batumi to create a single ‘green’ transport corridor between Asia and Europe.
The fintech market in Turkmenistan: growth potential and development prospects
14.01.2026The fintech market in Turkmenistan is in its infancy and has high growth potential, according to the December report by the Asian Development Bank. This was reported by the online publication ‘Business Turkmenistan’. The sector's development is facilitated by the growth of internet access, the spread of mobile devices and government digitalisation programmes, with state banks and telecommunications companies playing a key role. State financial institutions remain the main drivers of digital banking, while commercial banks are gradually introducing mobile applications and online services for customers. At the same time, a market is forming for fintech companies working with mobile payments, digital wallets and remote lending, with the support of telecom operators and international organisations. ADB experts believe that the further development of fintech in Turkmenistan will depend on strengthening cooperation between the state, banks and technology companies.
First natural gas flow obtained at the ‘Hazarly’ field in Turkmenistan
14.01.2026Industrial natural gas flow has been obtained from a new well at the ‘Hazarly’ gas field located in Lebap velayat. This was reported by the news website Asmannews. The ‘Hazarly-3’ well, drilled by the ‘Marynebitgazgözleg’ expedition of the ‘Türkmengeologiýa’ State Corporation, provides up to 120,000 cubic metres of gas per day. It is noted that this is the first gas-bearing well at this field, which creates the conditions for further development of ‘Hazarly’ and expansion of the resource base of the gas industry in Turkmenistan.
‘Türkmennebit’ ended 2025 with growth in production indicators
14.01.2026In 2025, specialists from the production structures of the ‘Türkmennebit’ State Concern ensured the production of 4 million 25 thousand tonnes of oil and gas condensate, according to Turkmenportal, citing the ‘Nebit-Gaz’ newspaper. According to the source, the ‘Nebitgazçykaryş’ trust's divisions additionally produced 205,000 tonnes of raw materials. As a result, the planned targets were met by 108.6%. During the year, more than 4.6 billion cubic metres of natural gas were supplied to consumers. The divisions ‘Goturdepenebit’, ‘Gumdagnebit’, ‘Nebitdagnebit’, ‘Gamyşlyjanebit’, ‘Galkynyşnebit’, ‘Keýmir’ and ‘Körpeje’ made a significant contribution to these volumes. At the same time, work was carried out to restore the well fund. During the reporting period, 437 wells were repaired instead of the planned 413. Additional oil production from these wells amounted to 292,600 tonnes, which allowed the plan to be fulfilled by 124%. In 2025, 39 new wells were drilled, 33 of which have already been put into operation.
Oil and gas complex strengthens Turkmenistan's energy strategy
14.01.2026The fuel and energy complex remains one of the key sectors of Turkmenistan's economy. Its development is linked to the tasks of energy security, diversification of supplies, introduction of technologies and reduction of environmental risks, reports TDH. For decades, Turkmenistan has been implementing major projects in the oil and gas industry. These projects are aimed at ensuring reliable energy supplies, expanding export routes, improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The country's energy policy provides for the development of the oil and gas industry, its integration into international markets and the introduction of environmentally friendly production and processing technologies. Turkmenistan has large reserves of hydrocarbons and is consistently expanding its export geography. The priorities remain the export of natural gas to foreign markets and the implementation of new infrastructure projects. At an expanded meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on 11 July 2025, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov outlined the tasks for the development of the fuel and energy complex and the diversification of gas exports. The Head of State instructed to more actively implement scientific achievements, conduct geological exploration, increase oil and gas production and processing, and produce competitive and environmentally friendly products. The energy sector includes enterprises in the gas, oil and electricity industries. The country has modern gas-fired power plants, which has made it possible to increase production capacity. More than half of industrial production is accounted for by the gas sector. New fields are being developed and gas processing is being expanded. Modern plants with deep processing of raw materials have been built. The oil industry is also developing. Work is continuing on the search for new deposits and the modernisation of infrastructure. The petrochemical sector is increasing its output of products that meet international standards. Turkmen polyethylene and polypropylene are supplied to domestic and foreign markets. The Turkmenbashi Oil Refinery Complex and the Seydi Oil Refinery play a key role in oil processing. They produce a wide range of fuels, lubricants, polymers and bitumen. Turkmenistan is developing international cooperation in the energy sector and attracting investment. In April 2025, Kuala Lumpur hosted an international forum on attracting foreign investment to the economy of Turkmenistan. It was organised by the ‘Türkmengaz’ State Concern, the ‘Türkmennebit’ State Concern and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. The forum discussed issues related to hydrocarbon production, oil and gas processing, attracting investment, introducing digital and environmental technologies, as well as projects in the oil and gas and petrochemical sectors. Particular attention was paid to the ‘Galkynysh’ field and export routes, including the Turkmenistan-China and TAPI gas pipelines. On 14 May, talks were held in Ashgabat between the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and the management of Petronas and ADNOC, as well as representatives of the United Arab Emirates. As a result, Cooperation Agreements were signed with ‘Türkmennebit’ and ‘Türkmengaz’. The environmental component remains an important part of the energy strategy. Technologies are being introduced in the country to reduce emissions and minimise the impact on the environment. A regulatory framework for environmentally safe subsoil use has been created. On 5 June 2025, the ‘Türkmengaz’ State Concern's Natural Gas Research Institute hosted an international scientific and practical conference on the environmental aspects of hydrocarbon field development. It was attended by representatives of international organisations, financial institutions and major energy companies. At the end of 2025, the fuel and energy complex confirmed its leading role in the strategy of industrialisation, digital development and expansion of Turkmenistan's export opportunities. The projects being implemented strengthen the country's position in international energy markets and contribute to the sustainable development of the economy.
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