Taiwan Signals Readiness To End Russian Naphtha Imports At EU’s Request

Taiwan’s private oil refineries are prepared to halt imports of Russian naphtha if the European Union requests it, Economy Minister Kung Ming-hsin said Tuesday. The move would mark Taipei’s deeper alignment with Western sanctions aimed at restricting Moscow’s war funding in Ukraine.

While state-run companies stopped Russian energy purchases in 2023, private refineries such as Formosa Petrochemical continued buying naphtha — a key petrochemical feedstock — through open tenders.

🇹🇼🇷🇺 ANOTHER BLOW TO PUTIN’S ENERGY EXPORTS - THIS TIME FROM TAIWAN

Taiwan signaled a major policy shift, declaring it is ready to halt purchases of Russian petrochemical feedstock - a move that could ripple across the global energy market.

The island had become the world’s top… https://t.co/Xx79qnPY6Y pic.twitter.com/EOAwcTni9p

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 8, 2025

Kung said Taiwan would “respect and abide by EU and G7 norms” and has already consulted with Brussels on compliance.

Environmental groups recently criticized Taiwan for boosting Russian naphtha imports sixfold since 2022, generating an estimated $1.7 billion in tax revenues for Moscow.

Taiwan willing to end naphtha trade with Russiahttps://t.co/X6E8Stp3GC pic.twitter.com/MtqQKlqZ7A

— Taiwan News (@TaiwanNewsEN) October 8, 2025

Despite the controversy, Taipei has condemned Russia’s invasion, supported Ukraine’s sovereignty, and provided humanitarian aid — even as it faces rising military pressure from China.

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