Taiwan Is Now Biggest Buyer Of Russian Crude Oil Product Despite Backing Ukraine

Last Updated:October 01, 2025, 16:38 IST

Taiwan imports record Russian naphtha for semiconductors despite supporting Ukraine and sanctions against Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (AP photo)

Taiwan has emerged as the world’s largest importer of Russian naphtha, a petroleum derivative critical to semiconductor production, even as it publicly aligns itself with Ukraine and international sanctions against Moscow. According to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), Taiwan imported $1.3 billion worth of Russian naphtha in the first half of 2025, with average monthly imports nearly six times higher than the 2022 average. Compared to the same period in 2024, imports rose by 44%.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Taiwan has purchased 6.8 million tonnes of Russian naphtha, worth $4.9 billion- equal to 20% of Russia’s total exports of the petroleum product.

Naphtha, derived from crude oil, is used to produce chemicals essential for manufacturing semiconductors- the backbone of Taiwan’s economy and the global electronics supply chain.

Taiwan’s Support For Ukraine

Taiwan has repeatedly expressed solidarity with Ukraine- most recently with Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung signing a pact in Poland last week to support Ukrainian children affected by the war. Taiwan officially joined sanctions against Russia in 2022, introducing export controls to prevent advanced Taiwanese technology from reaching Russia’s military. However, the self-governing island, which imports about 97% of its energy needs, has not restricted imports of Russian fossil fuels.

Hsin Hsuan Sun, co-author of the report and director at the Environmental Rights Foundation, said, “Taiwan cannot afford to ignore the risks created by its growing dependence on Russian fossil fuel. This reliance undermines Taiwan’s credibility with democratic allies.”

John Lough, head of foreign policy at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre, told the Guardian, “This looks like opportunism by Taiwan’s petrochemical industry. Even if the money from Taiwan helps to fill the Kremlin’s coffers, it’s a stretch to think that Russia would be willing or able to provide military support to China.”

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