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Idemitsu Maru First Japanese Tanker Through Hormuz, Japan Draws Reserves

5/1/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Idemitsu Maru, a Japanese-owned VLCC, became the first Japanese-linked tanker to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the war began.
Ship-tracking shows six to seven vessels cross the Strait daily, far below the pre-war average of 125-140.
Japan began a 20-day oil-reserve drawdown to meet about 60 % of May crude demand via non-Hormuz routes, praising the Idemitsu Maru transit.

History

Historical Context

The 1973 OAPEC oil embargo slashed Saudi and other OPEC exports by 5 million barrels per day, forcing Japan—then reliant on 90 % Middle-East oil and a 55-day stockpile—to impose drastic cuts and build strategic reserves. In 2024, Japan’s Idemitsu Maru became the first VLCC to traverse Hormuz since the war, prompting a 20-day reserve drawdown that covered 60 % of May crude demand.

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Story summary

Idemitsu Maru, a Japanese-owned VLCC, became the first Japanese-linked tanker to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the war began.
Ship-tracking shows six to seven vessels cross the Strait daily, far below the pre-war average of 125-140.
Japan began a 20-day oil-reserve drawdown to meet about 60 % of May crude demand via non-Hormuz routes, praising the Idemitsu Maru transit.

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