Azerbaijani crude tops 80% of BTC pipeline flows Despite Export Decline

Oil shipments through the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline fell in the first five months of 2026, although Azerbaijani crude continued to account for more than four-fifths of total throughput, underscoring the country's dominant role in the region's main export corridor.

A total of 10.56 million tonnes of crude oil were transported via the BTC pipeline between January and May, down 9.4% from the same period a year earlier, according to local media, citing data released by Azerbaijan's State Statistics Committee.

The BTC pipeline accounted for 76.8% of all oil transported during the reporting period, maintaining its position as Azerbaijan's principal export route to global markets.

Crude produced in Azerbaijan represented 82.4% of total BTC shipments, equivalent to 8.7 million tonnes, while the remaining 1.86 million tonnes, or 17.6%, originated from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.

The volume of Azerbaijani oil shipped through the pipeline declined by 10.4% year-on-year, outpacing the overall drop in throughput. Shipments of crude from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan also decreased, falling 4.05% compared with the same period of 2025.

The BTC pipeline, which transports crude from the Caspian region to Türkiye's Mediterranean coast, remains a critical artery for regional energy exports and a key source of transit revenues for participating countries.

By Aghakazim Guliyev