Naphtha — Petrochemical Feedstock & Blending Component Supplier

What is naphtha — definition and origin

Naphtha is a volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture obtained during the atmospheric distillation of crude oil. It occupies the boiling fraction between liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) and kerosene, typically in the range of 30–200 °C. The exact composition depends on the crude oil source and the refinery's distillation cut points.

Naphtha is one of the most important intermediate products in the petroleum refining chain. It serves as the primary feedstock for steam crackers in the petrochemical industry (producing ethylene, propylene, butadiene and other building-block chemicals) and as a feed for catalytic reformers (producing high-octane gasoline components and aromatic hydrocarbons — benzene, toluene, xylene).

Russia is among the world's largest naphtha exporters, with major refining centres in the Volga region, Western Siberia and southern Russia. Exported volumes are loaded primarily at Black Sea ports (Novorossiysk, Tuapse) and Baltic terminals, serving buyers in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

Naphtha grades — light naphtha vs heavy naphtha

Naphtha is broadly classified by boiling range and chemical composition into two main commercial grades. Understanding the difference is essential for selecting the right feedstock for your process:

Full-range naphtha (FRN, ~30–200 °C) encompasses both cuts and is traded when the buyer's process accepts the combined stream or plans to fractionate on site. Specification details — including PONA analysis (paraffins, olefins, naphthenes, aromatics), sulfur content, and distillation curve — are confirmed per shipment via Certificate of Analysis.

Technical specifications — typical export quality

Actual specifications depend on the refinery source and crude slate. Each shipment includes a refinery Certificate of Analysis (CoA) with full distillation data, PONA breakdown, sulfur, density, and other parameters agreed in the contract.

Industrial applications and end-use

Naphtha's versatility makes it a cornerstone commodity in the global energy and chemical value chain. Principal applications include:

• Steam cracking (ethylene production) — light naphtha is the dominant feedstock for steam crackers in Asia and the Middle East, producing ethylene, propylene, butadiene, and C4/C5 fractions that underpin the plastics, synthetic rubber and chemical industries.
• Catalytic reforming — heavy naphtha is processed in catalytic reformers to produce high-octane reformate (for gasoline blending) and aromatic hydrocarbons: benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX) used in solvents, polymers and synthetic fibres.
• Gasoline blending — naphtha is a key blending component in the motor gasoline pool, particularly for achieving target octane ratings, vapor pressure and distillation characteristics required by regional fuel standards.
• Solvent and industrial use — speciality naphtha grades are used as industrial solvents in paints, coatings, adhesives and cleaning products, as well as in extraction processes in the mining and food industries.

Supply chain and logistics

Our naphtha supply chain starts at major Russian refineries and reaches international buyers through well-established export routes:

• Origin: Russian refineries (Volga, Western Siberia, Southern Russia)
• Loading ports: Novorossiysk, Tuapse (Black Sea); Baltic terminals available for specific parcels
• Transport: Clean petroleum product tankers (CPP); naphtha requires dedicated clean tanks
• Parcel sizes: 10 000–80 000+ MT depending on vessel type and terminal capacity
• Inspection: Independent inspection at loading port (SGS, Saybolt, Bureau Veritas or agreed agency)

We coordinate vessel nomination, terminal booking, loading supervision and document flow. For FOB shipments the buyer arranges freight; for CIF we handle freight, insurance and delivery to destination port. All naphtha cargoes require clean product tankers — no commingling with residual or dirty products.

Naphtha export — key destination markets

Alghaf Marine DMCC supplies naphtha to buyers across the Middle East, South and East Asia, Turkey, and North Africa. Each region has distinct demand drivers:

In the Middle East, naphtha supplements locally produced feedstock for the region's expanding petrochemical sector. Buyers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman use imported naphtha as swing feedstock when ethane or condensate supply is constrained. CIF delivery to Gulf ports provides fixed landed cost and simplified logistics.

In Asia (India, South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia), naphtha remains the primary steam cracker feedstock. Demand is driven by ethylene capacity expansions and the gasoline blending pool. FOB Black Sea parcels offer competitive pricing for Asian petrochemical importers, with freight economics benefiting from flexible vessel sizing and established shipping routes.

Turkey serves as both an end-use market (TUPRAS and Petkim consume significant naphtha volumes) and a re-export hub. FOB Novorossiysk provides short sailing distances and fast turnaround, making it attractive for both refiners and traders.

Typical export documents for naphtha

• Commercial Invoice
• Bill of Lading (B/L)
• Certificate of Analysis (CoA) — PONA, distillation, sulfur, density
• Certificate of Origin (if required)
• Customs Export Declaration
• Insurance Certificate (CIF shipments)
• Independent inspection report (at loading, if agreed)

Request a naphtha quote

Price depends on grade (light / full-range naphtha), volume, delivery basis and timing. To receive a workable quote, please provide:

• Grade: light naphtha, heavy naphtha or full-range naphtha
• Volume (metric tons)
• Delivery: FOB (port) or CIF (destination port)
• Preferred loading / delivery window
• End-use (cracker, reformer, blending) — helps us select the best source

See also

Gasoline 10 ppm · Gasoil · EN 590 Diesel · Petroleum Coke · Logistics & FOB/CIF