{"id":54967,"date":"2025-10-16T11:05:27","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T03:05:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/erf.org.tw\/?p=54967"},"modified":"2025-10-16T11:05:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T03:05:27","slug":"russiannaphthaeng","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testodeverf.tpcuwp.com\/en\/russiannaphthaeng\/","title":{"rendered":"Success achieved: Taiwan\u2019s Formosa Petrochemical Corporation (FPCC) agrees not to purchase Russian naphtha after report reveals tremendous import surge"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Next Steps: Campaigners and experts urge FPCC to sever ties with Russian coal and call on Taiwan to increase oversight.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Taipei, 16 October 2025<\/i><\/b> –<\/b> Earlier this month, the <\/span>Environmental Rights Foundation (ERF)<\/span><\/a>, the <\/span>Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA)<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Ecodefense<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Urgewald<\/span><\/a> jointly <\/span>published the report<\/span><\/a> \u201cDangerous dependence: Taiwan becomes world\u2019s largest importer of Russian naphtha as coal imports persist\u201d.\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

The report revealed that Taiwan became the world\u2019s largest importer of Russian naphtha in the first half of 2025, and has sent USD 1.7 billion in tax revenue to Putin\u2019s war chest. The report further analysed Taiwan\u2019s continued heavy reliance on Russian fossil fuels and the risks this poses to its foreign relations, national security, and supply chain stability, especially the semiconductor industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following extensive coverage by international media and strong coordination and support from legislators Puma Shen and Chen Kuan-Ting, on 9 October, Taiwan\u2019s Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin <\/span>told the press<\/span><\/a> that \u201cFPCC\u2019s relevant contracts are about to expire, and after communication, FPCC has agreed not to purchase Russian naphtha in the future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

ERF, CREA, Ecodefense and Urgewald welcome FPCC\u2019s decision to cease purchasing Russian naphtha, and we also thank the Ministry of Economic Affairs for its proactive and effective engagement. This is an important and responsible decision, bringing Taiwan\u2019s trade and economic practices closer to its democratic values and international commitments.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, FPCC remains one of Taiwan\u2019s largest importers of Russian coal, and Taiwan continues to rank as the world\u2019s eighth-largest importer of Russian coal in the first half of 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite ERF, CREA and Ecodefense <\/span>publishing a report<\/span><\/a> last year on Taiwan\u2019s imports of coal from Russia and actively engaging with stakeholders, and despite Taiwan Cement Corporation \u2014 previously one of the largest buyers \u2014 <\/span>having ceased imports following our advocacy<\/span><\/a>, FPCC has <\/span>chosen to continue purchasing Russian coal<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We urge FPCC to take the next responsible step by ceasing its purchases of Russian coal, especially from sanctioned entities.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, we also call on the government to move from reactive measures to proactive oversight in order to prevent similar situations in the future, and to take at least the following immediate actions:<\/span><\/p>\n