First Russian Oil Arrives in Japan After Strait of Hormuz Effectively Blockaded
Following the deterioration of the Middle East situation, Japan, seeking to diversify its crude oil sources, received its first shipment of crude oil from Russia's Sakhalin-2 project since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively blockaded.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 17:37
- 🔍 Collected: May 5, 2026 at 18:01 (24 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 5, 2026 at 18:14 (13 min after Collected)
Middle East War Key News
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 5th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) - With the worsening situation in the Middle East, Japan is attempting to procure crude oil from other regions as an alternative source. Against this backdrop, crude oil produced from the 'Sakhalin-2' oil and gas development project in the Russian Far East arrived in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, today at noon.
According to NHK, the tanker carrying this batch of crude oil arrived at Taiyo Oil's refinery in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, today at noon.
This crude oil was procured by the major Japanese oil company Taiyo Oil. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) stated that this is the first time crude oil from 'Sakhalin-2' has arrived in Japan since the joint attack on Iran by the United States and Israel, and after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively blockaded.
'Sakhalin-2' is led by Russia's state-backed Gazprom, and major Japanese trading companies Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsui & Co. are also shareholders in 'Sakhalin-2'.
TBS TV pointed out that this is the first time Russian-produced crude oil has arrived in Japan after Iran was attacked and the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy transportation route, was effectively blockaded.
This crude oil will be transported to the refinery's storage tanks, then processed into petroleum products such as naphtha and gasoline before shipment.
Taiyo Oil stated that it had previously purchased crude oil from 'Sakhalin-2' in June last year, and this procurement was commissioned by the Japanese government.
Ehime local TV station itv reported that Taiyo Oil did not disclose the quantity of this procurement.
The Japanese government is seeking to procure crude oil from regions other than the Middle East. METI noted that 'Sakhalin-2 crude oil is not subject to the economic sanctions imposed by Europe and the United States on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.' (Translated by Yang Wei-ching) 1150505
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship you make is a force guarding press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's 'First-Hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Unauthorized reproduction, public broadcast, public transmission, or use of the text, images, and videos on this website is prohibited.
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 5th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) - With the worsening situation in the Middle East, Japan is attempting to procure crude oil from other regions as an alternative source. Against this backdrop, crude oil produced from the 'Sakhalin-2' oil and gas development project in the Russian Far East arrived in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, today at noon.
According to NHK, the tanker carrying this batch of crude oil arrived at Taiyo Oil's refinery in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, today at noon.
This crude oil was procured by the major Japanese oil company Taiyo Oil. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) stated that this is the first time crude oil from 'Sakhalin-2' has arrived in Japan since the joint attack on Iran by the United States and Israel, and after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively blockaded.
'Sakhalin-2' is led by Russia's state-backed Gazprom, and major Japanese trading companies Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsui & Co. are also shareholders in 'Sakhalin-2'.
TBS TV pointed out that this is the first time Russian-produced crude oil has arrived in Japan after Iran was attacked and the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy transportation route, was effectively blockaded.
This crude oil will be transported to the refinery's storage tanks, then processed into petroleum products such as naphtha and gasoline before shipment.
Taiyo Oil stated that it had previously purchased crude oil from 'Sakhalin-2' in June last year, and this procurement was commissioned by the Japanese government.
Ehime local TV station itv reported that Taiyo Oil did not disclose the quantity of this procurement.
The Japanese government is seeking to procure crude oil from regions other than the Middle East. METI noted that 'Sakhalin-2 crude oil is not subject to the economic sanctions imposed by Europe and the United States on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.' (Translated by Yang Wei-ching) 1150505
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship you make is a force guarding press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's 'First-Hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Unauthorized reproduction, public broadcast, public transmission, or use of the text, images, and videos on this website is prohibited.