Naphtha often provides feedstock to the petrochemical industry. This is especially true in countries in which the vehicle fleet is centered on diesel fuel (such as European countries). The United States has historically had a vehicle fleet balanced between gasoline and diesel fuels, resulting in the maximization of naphtha blended into the motor fuels pool. Therefore, most of the petrochemicals in the U.S. are produced by turning natural gas into ethylene.

As of 2012 the U.S. is undergoing a slight dieselisation of its vehicle fleet; however, natural gas prices at 10 year lows continue to make natural gas the most cost effective route for producing petrochemicals in the U.S.