Turkmenistan’s most economically important mineral products were iodine, natural gas, petroleum, and sulfur. In 2024, Turkmenistan was a globally significant producer of iodine and sulfur. The country was the second-ranked and the third-ranked producer of natural gas and crude petroleum among members of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Others mineral commodities produced included bentonite, cement, gypsum, lime, nitrogen (ammonia and urea), salt, sodium, and rolled steel products, which represented only a minor part of the economy of Turkmenistan. The country imported iron and steel products and nonferrous metals from the United States.
The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Turkmenistan is provided by the Law on Subsoil 2014. The use and protection of mineral resources is overseen by the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, Federal agencies, and local authorities. Mineral commodities were produced by Government-owned domestic companies and foreign-owned companies. Iodine was produced in the Bereket, the Khazar chemical, and the Balkanabat plants located in Balkan Velayat and operated by the Government-owned State Concern Turkmenkhimiya. In 2024, Turkmenistan, in terms of decreasing volume, exported iodine to China, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and India.
