/Reuters Agency
Taiwan and India were the main destinations for Russian naphtha sea exports in August 2025, as cheaper barrels attracted buyers, according to data from market sources and LSEG.
Since the European Union’s (EU) full embargo on Russian oil products came into force in February 2023, Middle Eastern and Asian countries have become the predominant recipients of Russian naphtha supplies.
Naphtha is a fundamental raw material in the petrochemical industry for the production of olefins and aromatics, which are subsequently used in the manufacture of a wide variety of products, such as plastics, synthetic resins, synthetic fibers, and various other chemical compounds.
Export loads of naphtha from Russian ports to Taiwan more than doubled in August compared to the previous month, reaching around 370,000 metric tons, totaling 1.8 million tons from January to August 2025, according to LSEG data.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Minister of Economy stated that private refineries are willing to stop buying Russian naphtha if the European Union so requests, after a group of non-governmental organizations criticized the island’s continued trade with that country.
Although Taiwanese state-owned companies stopped importing Russian oil in 2023, until now there has been no similar restriction for private companies.
Exports of naphtha from Russian ports to India in August totaled 151,000 metric tons, representing a 28% drop compared to July after previous abundant supplies. They exceeded 1.7 million tons between January and August 2025.
According to shipping data, Russian naphtha arrived at the Indian western ports of Mundra, Hazira and Sikka. China, Singapore, Malaysia and Turkey were among the other notable destinations for Russian naphtha exports in August.
