Washington: Amid United States President Donald Trump’s tariffs and sanctions games, a country, a close ally of America, has reached the top spot in purchasing a crude oil product from Russia. India, which was holding the place, has slipped to the second position. Now, the world is closely watching Trump’s move on it, whether he imposes tariffs on this friendly country, as he has done against India. Notably, Washington has punished India with an additional 25 percent tariff for buying Russian oil. However, several have expressed their view that imposing tariffs on friendly countries for importing Russian oil could be not good for the US.
Which Country Becomes The Largest Russian Oil Importer?
United States one of the closest ally in Asia – Taiwan – has become the largest importer of Russian oil. It is America’s most effective weapon against China to reduce its diplomatic and military pressure. Taiwan is currently world’s largest importer of naphtha from Moscow. Naphtha is a form of petroleum which is majorly used in the semiconductor industry.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Taiwan surpassed India as top buyer of Russian naphtha.
- Imports hit USD 1.3 billion in six months up 44% from 2024.
- Naphtha important for plastics, fibers, and semiconductor chemicals.
- Trump may target Taiwan with tariffs after India’s penalty.
It is noteworthy that Taiwan identifies as a supporter of Ukraine and was among the nations that imposed Western sanctions on Russia after the war began in 2013.
How Much Russian Naphtha Did Taiwan Buy?
A report by The Guardian revealed that Tiawan has imported USD1.3 billion worth naphtha from Russia in last six months. The Asian country’s monthly imports has reached over six times than it was in 2022. The import increased by 44 percent as compared to the first half of 2024.
The report, released by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air – a Finnish think tank – in partnership with European, Russian, and Taiwanese NGOs, feature India as another major destination for Russian seaborne naphtha exports.
What Is Naphtha?
Naphtha is a key raw material in the petrochemical industry. It is used to produce olefins and aromatics that used in plastics, resins, fibers, and other chemicals. It is also important for making chemicals used in the semiconductor industry.
(with ANI inputs)
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