The UAE and Kuwait have sharply increased naphtha exports to Asia through ship-to-ship (STS) transfers outside the Strait of Hormuz, helping regional petrochemical producers restore operations, traders and analysts told Reuters.

ADNOC and Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) exported nearly 1.6 million metric tons (mt), or about 14 million barrels, of naphtha in August and September, more than double the roughly 700,000 mt shipped in March and April, according to trade-source shipping data.

The two companies, which alone counted for half of Gulf naphtha exports before the Iran war, jointly shipped about 5 million mt in August and September 2025, with most cargoes heading to Asia, Kpler data showed.

ADNOC Maritime International Chartering loaded about 1.5 million mt onto 25 vessels during August and September for STS transfers off Sohar, Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz. KPC shipped three cargoes totaling around 180,000 mt.

Actual volumes may be higher as some vessels disable their transponders to reduce attack risks.

The disruption of naphtha supplies through the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Iran war pushed parts of Asia’s petrochemical sector close to a standstill, forcing producers to cut output and buyers to secure scarce replacement cargoes at significantly higher prices.