Japan imported Russian crude oil for the first time since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on April 4, 2024 [1].
The shipment marks a significant shift in energy procurement as Japan seeks alternatives to disrupted Middle East oil supplies. Because the Strait of Hormuz was blocked, the Japanese government intervened to secure energy stability through non-traditional routes.
The Omani-flagged tanker Voyager [2] transported the crude oil to Sun Oil’s Shikoku refinery in Imabari, located in Ehime Prefecture [3]. The oil originated from the Sakhalin-2 project, a major development in the Russian Far East [4].
Sun Oil said the company received a procurement request from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to facilitate the delivery [5]. The arrival of the vessel at the dock in Kikuma-cho occurred around noon on April 4, 2024 [1].
Reports on the exact timing of the offloading process varied. One report said that unloading operations began at noon on the day of arrival [6]. However, another report said that strong winds caused the vessel to postpone docking, with offloading expected to begin on a subsequent day [1].
This delivery is the first arrival of Russian crude in Japan since attacks on Iran and the subsequent blockage of the strategic waterway [7]. The use of an Omani-flagged vessel to transport the Russian oil highlights the complex logistical arrangements used to bypass regional disruptions.
“Japan imported Russian crude oil for the first time since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz”
The resumption of Russian crude imports underscores Japan's vulnerability to maritime chokepoints in the Middle East. By leveraging the Sakhalin-2 project, Tokyo is prioritizing immediate energy security over the geopolitical tensions associated with Russian energy, demonstrating a pragmatic approach to preventing domestic fuel shortages when the Strait of Hormuz is impassable.
