Russia shifts naphtha exports to storage hubs as major buyers pull back under sanctions
Russian exporters are turning to storage hubs as sanctions deter major buyers in India and Taiwan. These barrels are often blended and resold to other markets.
Insights:
Western sanctions and subsequent United States 
US measures have led key buyers to scale back their purchases of Russian 
RU naphtha, initiating a significant shift in global energy logistics. This ongoing development has prompted exporters and traders to redirect volumes into ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operations and various port storage hubs. These adjustments are fundamentally altering trade flows and changing where and how Russian RU naphtha is held, blended, and re-exported, with direct consequences for supply lines serving Asian, African, and Latin American markets.
US measures have led key buyers to scale back their purchases of Russian RU naphtha, initiating a significant shift in global energy logistics. This ongoing development has prompted exporters and traders to redirect volumes into ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operations and various port storage hubs. These adjustments are fundamentally altering trade flows and changing where and how Russian RU naphtha is held, blended, and re-exported, with direct consequences for supply lines serving Asian, African, and Latin American markets.Data provided by the London Stock Exchange Group plc and reports from traders indicate a timely shift in trade flows at the start of 2026. A notable example of this trend is seen in Taiwan 
TW, where the Port of Mailiao has imported no Russian RU naphtha since the beginning of 2026. This is a sharp contrast to 2025, when the island imported 2.7 million tonnes of the product. The London Stock Exchange Group plc shipping data underscores how quickly traditional buyers have adjusted their procurement strategies in response to the tightening regulatory environment.
TW, where the Port of Mailiao has imported no Russian RU naphtha since the beginning of 2026. This is a sharp contrast to 2025, when the island imported 2.7 million tonnes of the product. The London Stock Exchange Group plc shipping data underscores how quickly traditional buyers have adjusted their procurement strategies in response to the tightening regulatory environment.
