Japan is set to receive an oil shipment from Azerbaijan for the first time since tensions in the Middle East escalated.
A tanker carrying Azerbaijani crude is expected to arrive at the port of Yokohama on Tuesday. According to Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the cargo is intended for Eneos, one of the country’s largest energy companies.
Narumi Hosokawa, Deputy Director-General for Crisis Management at the ministry, stated that this will be the first oil delivery from Azerbaijan to Japan since the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East.
Before the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran began in late February, around 95% of Japan’s oil imports came from Middle Eastern countries. Rising tensions and the risk of blockade in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed Tokyo to seek alternative energy sources.
Japan’s refineries have traditionally been configured to process Middle Eastern crude. However, the country has already begun taking steps to diversify its imports.
In addition to Azerbaijan, Japan has increased oil imports from the United States and continues to purchase crude from Russia’s Sakhalin-2 project, which is exempt from certain sanctions.
Following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, Japan had effectively halted Russian oil imports and joined sanctions imposed on Moscow.
To offset risks associated with Middle Eastern supplies, Tokyo has also started utilizing its strategic petroleum reserves. According to the latest data, Japan’s oil reserves are sufficient to cover domestic consumption for approximately 205 days.
