Core Insights - Taiwan's imports of Russian naphtha surged to $1.3 billion in the first half of 2025, marking a 44% increase year-on-year, and reaching approximately six times the monthly import amount compared to 2022 [1][4] - Taiwan has become the largest importer of Russian naphtha globally, with total imports amounting to $4.9 billion since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 [1][4] - The reliance on Russian naphtha poses potential risks to Taiwan's relationships with strategic partners like the US and EU, as it contributes $1.7 billion in resource tax revenue to the Russian government [4][7] Group 1: Import Dynamics - Taiwan's naphtha imports from Russia are primarily driven by the chemical industry's needs, particularly for semiconductor manufacturing processes [2][10] - The price of Russian naphtha has decreased due to international sanctions, leading to increased procurement through international bidding [4][5] - Major Taiwanese petrochemical companies, such as Formosa Petrochemical, are significant consumers of Russian naphtha, although they assert compliance with international sanctions [4][5] Group 2: Regulatory and Strategic Considerations - Taiwan has not established explicit restrictions on naphtha imports, leaving it to companies to make procurement decisions, while state-owned enterprises have ceased imports from Russia [7] - Taiwan's government has expressed willingness to align with friendly nations on additional restrictions if necessary, emphasizing the need for diversified resource procurement [7][8] - Reports indicate that Taiwan's over-reliance on Russian naphtha could heighten economic security risks for major semiconductor firms like TSMC and their clients, including Nvidia [7][8]
台湾成俄罗斯石脑油全球最大进口地
日经中文网·2025-10-11 04:00