Overview

• Taiwan imported $1.3 billion of Russian naphtha in the first half of 2025, with average monthly spending nearly six times the 2022 level and volumes reaching about 1.9 million tonnes, the report says.
• Since February 2022, Taiwan’s purchases totaled 6.8 million tonnes worth roughly $4.9 billion, accounting for about 20% of Russia’s naphtha exports, according to the authors.
• The study by CREA with ERF, Ecodefense and Urgewald reports a Formosa Petrochemical refinery relied on Russian naphtha for about 90% of its feedstock in early 2025 and handled 96% of Taiwan’s naphtha imports, while state-owned CPC ceased such imports in June 2024.
• Formosa challenged parts of the report, saying Russian naphtha made up about 85% of its imports this year by its own data and emphasizing open bidding, sanctions compliance and readiness to follow any new prohibitions.
• Taipei has not restricted Russian fossil-fuel imports, and researchers and a ruling-party lawmaker warn of national-security, sanctions and reputational risks, with the report noting heavy reliance on supplies linked to the sanctioned firm Novatec.