Taiwan has imported nearly $5 billion worth of naphtha from the sanctioned country while supporting Ukraine, report claims

Taiwan became the largest global importer of Russian naphtha during the first half of 2025, according to a report released Wednesday by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

The Helsinki-based NGO said Taiwan imported 1.9 million metric tonnes of the hydrocarbon liquid between January and June, valued at $1.3 billion. Monthly volumes averaged six times higher than in the same period three years ago. Naphtha is primarily used in petrochemical and semiconductor production.

Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Taiwan has imported 6.8 million tonnes of Russian naphtha worth $4.9 billion, CREA stated. Overall fossil fuel imports from Russia during this time reached $11.2 billion, while Taiwan contributed $50 million in aid to Ukraine, according to the group.

Increased imports from Russia have also reportedly raised concerns among Taiwanese officials, particularly amid China's growing ties with Moscow. Beijing considers the self-governing island an inalienable part of its territory.

"We cannot rely on a single country or company, especially one that may not recognize Taiwan's sovereignty or even be hostile to it," said Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Chen Kuan-ting in comments to the Financial Times.

CREA also said some importers had paid above the G7-imposed $45-per-barrel cap on seaborne Russian naphtha, potentially exposing them to secondary sanctions. Private companies have driven most of the increase in imports, while state-owned firms have reduced their purchases since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, the report states.

Formosa Petrochemical Corp, a key supplier to Taiwan's chip industry, was responsible for 96% of Russian naphtha imports between 2022 and mid-2025, up from 9% in 2021, according to the NGO. Formosa said its sourcing complies with EU sanctions and is based on open tenders.

Taiwan met 95% of its energy demand through imports in 2024, official data shows. Other major buyers of Russian naphtha in June included India, China, Singapore, Malaysia, and Turkiye, according to data from the London Stock Exchange.

(RT.com)