Naphtha

Main article: Petroleum products in Russia

Naphtha is a highly flammable liquid with a characteristic odor. The mixture contains paraffins, cycloalkanes, aromatic compounds. Naphtha is produced from coal tar, bituminous sands, shale deposits. There is a destructive wood distillation technology that also produces a volatile hydrocarbon fraction.

There is a misconception that naphtha is white spirit. In fact, the solvent is another product. Naphtha is not used in pure form. The liquid is subjected to processing on catalysts, purification from sulfur compounds and other transformations that make it possible to obtain high-octane components of the fuel.

At the refinery, naphtha is produced in the first stage of crude oil distillation. Such a substance is called "straight-run." Straight-run naphtha is distilled in the temperature range from 35 to 200 ° C, and then separated into a light and heavy fraction. The light form contains hydrocarbons with 1-6 carbon atoms, and the heavy form contains macromolecules with 6 or more units. Both fractions are flammable and volatile.

Naphtha is used as a fuel, solvent, component of technological processes in industrial enterprises. Naphtha-based fuel is often found in stores as a liquid for igniting coals.

Naphtha exports from Russia

Main article: Export of petroleum products from Russia

2025

Taiwan has become one of the largest importers of Russian naphtha, which the country needs to produce chips

Taiwan became one of the world's largest buyers of Russian naphtha in the first half of 2025. The country purchased products worth $1.3 billion during this period. Average monthly imports grew almost sixfold from 2022 to the first half of 2025. For the entire period, Taiwan acquired 6.8 million tons of Russian naphtha for $4.9 billion. The volume is 20% of Russia's exports and makes the island the third in the world in terms of purchases. This is stated in a report by the Center for power and Clean Air Research, created in conjunction with other analytical companies. The results of the study were reported to RBC on October 1, 2025.

Naphtha is critical for Taiwan due to applications in the petrochemical industry. The products of this industry are used in the production of semiconductors and electronic components. The island has the production facilities of leading chip manufacturers. Taiwan-based TSMC is the largest contract semiconductor manufacturer in the world. American companies Nvidia, AMD and Intel also use the island's power to produce products.

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Фото: Unsplash

Naphtha is a mixture of hydrocarbons obtained in the first oil distillation step. The product is also called naphtha or heavy gasoline. Naphtha serves as a feedstock for the production of ethylene, propylene and other basic petrochemicals. These substances are starting materials for the manufacture of plastics, solvents and other chemical compounds. The semiconductor industry uses highly pure chemicals in various stages of chip manufacturing.

One of Taiwan's refineries has dramatically increased its dependence on Russian raw materials. The Mailiao private refinery during this period increased its dependence on Russian naphtha from 9% to 90%. A nine-fold increase in the share of Russian raw materials testifies to the strategic decision of the company. The company probably exported batches of petrochemical products made from naphtha of Russian origin to the countries of the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom.^[1][2]

Russia ousted the United States from the position of the main supplier of naphtha to Venezuela

In the summer of 2025, Russia ousted the United States from its position as the main supplier of naphtha to Venezuela, a product used to dilute super-heavy oil.

From March to October, supplies from the United States almost stopped, while Russia sent more than 7 million barrels for the first time in six years.

Venezuela began looking for a new supplier after tightening US sanctions against its oil sector. China and Iran could not close the need, and Russian naphtha turned out to be of high quality and cheaper.

2024: Naphtha exports from Russia resume growth

2023

Export growth in early December

In early December 2023, Russian fuel exports are growing, mainly due to the supply of diesel fuel and naphtha.

Sharp decline in naphtha exports in June

Rising naphtha exports through Singapore and UAE

2022

At the beginning of 2022, Russia is the main supplier of naphtha in the world

2021: Largest regions for naphtha imports from Russia

Notes