China has nearly doubled its naphtha import quotas for 2025, issuing a second batch of allocations to chemical companies as demand surges and cheaper alternatives like propane and ethane face supply disruptions, according to six trade sources.
The new batch, distributed in mid-June, brings China’s total naphtha import quota for the year to approximately 24 million metric tons, up from 12 million tons in 2024. The allocations were extended to 10 chemical firms, including state-owned giants Sinopec and CNOOC, which received 2.49 million and 2.76 million tons, respectively.
ExxonMobil, which launched its 1.6 million ton-per-year cracker in Huizhou in March, also received an import quota, according to traders familiar with the matter.
Naphtha, a refined oil product used primarily as a feedstock in petrochemical crackers, is tightly regulated by Beijing. The government typically distributes quotas annually and does not publicly announce the allocations.
The move to boost naphtha imports comes as U.S. supplies of propane and ethane—more cost-effective alternatives—become less competitive, particularly due to new tariffs and supply chain hurdles.
“A combination of logistical bottlenecks and trade restrictions has made naphtha cracking more attractive,” said a trade source at a major Chinese petrochemical company.
The U.S.-China trade war previously saw China impose tariffs as high as 84% on American propane imports, prompting a shift toward Middle Eastern alternatives. Though duties have since dropped to 10%, the pricing dynamics continue to favor naphtha.
Additional challenges arose this year when the U.S. Commerce Department began requiring exporters to obtain licenses before shipping to China, affecting flows of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
According to customs data, China imported 12.14 million tons of naphtha in 2024, and 5.9 million tons in the first five months of 2025. It remains the third-largest naphtha importer in Asia, behind South Korea and Japan.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 12th of December, covering the latest developments you need to...
NATO's Secretary-General urged European leaders to step up defence efforts to prevent a war waged by Russia, that could be "on the scale of war our gr...
A powerful magnitude 6.7 earthquake has struck northern Japan, triggering tsunami warnings and forcing thousands of residents to flee to higher ground...
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a peri...
Ukraine has presented the U.S. with a revised 20-point framework to end the war with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday, adding th...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 12th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
NATO's Secretary-General urged European leaders to step up defence efforts to prevent a war waged by Russia, that could be "on the scale of war our grandparents and great-grandparents endured".
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
A powerful magnitude 6.7 earthquake has struck northern Japan, triggering tsunami warnings and forcing thousands of residents to flee to higher ground.
In a dramatic Champions League clash at Baku’s Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Qarabağ grabbed an early lead, but Ajax staged a thrilling comeback to win 4-2.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their tensions through dialogue and engagement, as it pledged to work with the international community to help improve relations between the two countries.
The global centre of political gravity is increasingly moving from the Atlantic to the Pacific, a development with significant implications for the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will visit Turkmenistan on 11–12 December to attend the International Peace and Security Forum in Ashgabat.
The South Caucasus is witnessing a notable recalibration of geopolitical alignments, with Azerbaijan and Armenia both pursuing strategic partnerships with global powers, including the United States and China.
Energy ministers from the Turkic States have agreed to expand cooperation on key oil, gas, and green energy projects at an event hosted by Türkiye this week. It's a significant move towards regional energy collaboration.
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Juraj Blanar touched on the outcomes of President Ilham Aliyev’s official visit to Slovakia.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment