{"id":17934,"date":"2026-05-06T10:58:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T10:58:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/17934\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T10:58:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T10:58:11","slug":"japan-turns-back-to-russian-oil-as-hormuz-crisis-shakes-global-energy-supplies-united24-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/17934\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan Turns Back to\u00a0Russian Oil as\u00a0Hormuz Crisis Shakes Global Energy Supplies \u2014 UNITED24 Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

A\u00a0tanker carrying Russian crude oil docked at\u00a0a\u00a0refinery in\u00a0western Japan this week, marking Japan\u2019s first such import since tensions around the Strait of\u00a0Hormuz disrupted global oil flows earlier this year.<\/p>\n

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According to\u00a0The Japan Times on\u00a0May 6, the shipment was received<\/a> by\u00a0Japanese refiner Taiyo Oil at\u00a0its facility in\u00a0Imabari, Ehime Prefecture. The crude originated from Russia\u2019s Sakhalin-2 energy project in\u00a0the country\u2019s Far East.<\/p>\n

The cargo was purchased at\u00a0the request of\u00a0Japan\u2019s Ministry of\u00a0Economy, Trade and Industry as\u00a0Tokyo seeks to\u00a0diversify energy imports amid instability in\u00a0the Middle East. The oil began unloading on\u00a0May 6\u00a0for processing into gasoline and other petroleum products.<\/p>\n

The Sakhalin-2 project remains partially exempt from Western sanctions imposed on\u00a0Russia following its full-scale invasion of\u00a0Ukraine in\u00a02022, allowing Japan to\u00a0continue limited participation in\u00a0the project due to\u00a0energy security concerns.<\/p>\n

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Read more<\/p>\n

CategoryLatest news<\/a>South Korea Bypasses Blockaded Hormuz Strait as First Tanker Navigates Red Sea Route<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Apr 17, 2026 13:00\n <\/p>\n

According to\u00a0The Japan Times, Japanese officials cited the country\u2019s heavy dependence on\u00a0Middle Eastern crude as\u00a0a\u00a0key factor behind the decision. Roughly 95% of\u00a0Japan\u2019s oil imports traditionally come from the region.<\/p>\n

The renewed imports come after months of\u00a0disruption linked to\u00a0escalating tensions involving Iran and the Strait of\u00a0Hormuz, one of\u00a0the world\u2019s most critical maritime oil transit routes. Approximately one-fifth of\u00a0global oil shipments normally pass through the strait.<\/p>\n

Earlier, Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guards seized<\/a> two commercial vessels in\u00a0the Strait of\u00a0Hormuz and opened fire on\u00a0another cargo ship as\u00a0tensions with the US\u00a0escalated, according to\u00a0Reuters. The incident further disrupted one of\u00a0the world\u2019s most critical energy routes, through which roughly 20% of\u00a0global oil and LNG supplies normally pass.<\/p>\n

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