Although trade tensions have decreased, the higher tariffs in effect and earlier supply disruptions impacting ethane and liquefied propane gas imports from the US have led China to double import quotas on naphtha, which is used mainly to make petrochemicals.

In 2024, the United States exported to China 9.3 million tons of liquefied propane gas and 4.8 million tons of ethane. Year to date through April 2025, US exports to China of both products were up versus the prior year: propane, 3.0 million tons, up 6%; ethane, 1.8 million tons, up 23%.

In 2024, China imported 12.3 million tons of naphtha, 407,000 tons of which were from the US. Through May 2025, imports were 6.1 million tons, up 23% from prior May YTD period. Imports from the US were 90,000 tons, down 43%.

Russia and the UAE are China’s leading suppliers of naphtha, with varying volumes from India, Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. The surge between January and May 2025 included naphtha from Algeria, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, and Thailand.

From International Trader Publications’ World Trade Analyses.