US Crude Oil Arrives in Japan for the First Time Since Middle East Situation Worsened

Central News (Central News Agency, Tokyo, April 26 Comprehensive Foreign Report) A tanker carrying US crude oil arrived in Japan at noon today. The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry stated that this is the first time US-produced crude oil has arrived in Japan since the Middle East situation worsened. This batch of crude oil is equivalent to half a day's domestic consumption in Japan.

After the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran, Iran virtually blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial energy transport waterway. As about 90% of Japan's crude oil passes through this strait, there are growing concerns about the stability of Japan's oil supply as the situation in Iran and its vicinity deteriorates.

According to reports from Kyodo News, TV Asahi, and Asahi Shimbun, the Japanese government and oil companies are collaborating to find alternative sources outside the Strait of Hormuz, with the US expected to be one of the key alternative sources.

Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Cosmo Energy Holdings Co., Ltd., arranged for this shipment of US oil to arrive in Japan. The company stated that the tanker carried approximately 145,000 kiloliters of crude oil, departing from Texas, USA, on March 22, and arrived off the coast of Chiba Prefecture, Japan, after 35 days, having sailed through the Panama Canal and the Pacific Ocean. This route is about 20 days shorter than passing through the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

Cosmo Oil arranged for a smaller tanker this time, carrying about 910,000 barrels of crude oil, which is equivalent to half a day's domestic consumption in Japan.

Cosmo Oil plans to transport this crude oil to refineries via an undersea pipeline.

Mainichi Shimbun reported that the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry stated that crude oil imports from the US will be expanded next month, quadrupling the import volume of 2025. (Translated by Yang Wei-ching) 1150426