Taiwan Tops Russian Naphtha Imports Despite Ukraine Solidarity
Taiwan has emerged as the world's top importer of Russian naphtha, a critical component in semiconductor production. Despite expressing solidarity with Ukraine and joining international sanctions against Russia, Taiwan has not banned Russian fossil fuel imports due to its extreme reliance on energy imports.
In the first half of 2025, Taiwan purchased $1.3 billion worth of Russian naphtha, with monthly imports averaging nearly six times the 2022 level. This surge, a 44% increase compared to the same period in 2024, accounts for about 20% of Russia's total exports of the product. However, it's important to note that most Russian energy goes to India and China, with Taiwan focusing on diversification and avoiding dependence on Russian energy sources.
Taiwan's imports have drawn attention, with some observers comparing Russia's designs on Ukraine with China's ambitions for Taiwan. This has heightened Taiwanese interest in civil defense training. Nevertheless, some analysts caution against overstating the geopolitical implications of Taiwan's imports of Russian fossil fuels.
Taiwan's significant imports of Russian naphtha, driven by its semiconductor industry's needs, have sparked geopolitical discussions. Despite joining sanctions against Russia, Taiwan's energy reliance has prevented a ban on Russian fossil fuel imports. While the implications are debated, Taiwan continues to diversify its energy sources.
