Full Breakdown
Japan Resumes Russian Crude Imports Amid Hormuz Tensions
5/6/2026, 9:43:02 PM
Resumption of Russian Crude Imports
On May 6 2024 a tanker carrying crude from Russia’s Sakhalin-2 project arrived at Taiyo Oil’s refinery in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, marking Japan’s first import of Russian crude since the Strait of Hormuz crisis escalated earlier in the year. The cargo, produced by Gazprom-operated Sakhalin-2, began unloading for conversion into gasoline and other petroleum products.
Energy-Security Context
Japan sources roughly 95 % of its oil from the Middle East—mainly Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar. About one-fifth of global oil and LNG passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that has seen repeated disruptions, including the seizure of two commercial vessels by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and an attack on a third ship. These incidents have constrained Middle-Eastern crude flows, prompting Tokyo to diversify supplies to protect domestic fuel markets.
Key Stakeholders
The purchase was arranged by Taiyo Oil Co. at the request of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Japanese equity in Sakhalin-2 includes Mitsubishi Corporation (10 % stake) and Mitsui & Co. (12.5 % stake); Gazprom operates the field. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has been negotiating with Saudi Arabia to increase shipments via the Red Sea port of Yanbu, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) has been consulted on the release of strategic petroleum reserves.
Import Volumes and Statistics
Japan consumes about 2.3–2.4 million barrels of crude daily, roughly 136 million kiloliters in fiscal year 2024. Middle-Eastern crude accounted for a record-high 95.9 % of imports that year. The Sakhalin-2 cargo adds a modest but strategically important share, and the project supplies roughly 9 % of Japan’s LNG, with Japanese buyers taking about 58 % of its LNG output.
Strategic Implications
Exempting Sakhalin-2 from Western sanctions gives Japan a nearby source of oil and LNG, reducing reliance on the Hormuz corridor. Diversified supplies support domestic fuel subsidies, stabilize industrial demand, and align with Japan’s aim of maintaining economic stability amid rising oil prices.
Official Statements & Responses
METI officials said the purchase was driven by “heavy dependence on Middle Eastern crude” and the need to “diversify energy imports amid instability in the Middle East.” Authorities also stressed that the Russian crude “will not be subjected to U.S. and European sanctions imposed after beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022,” underscoring Sakhalin-2’s special status.
Future Outlook
Japan will keep releasing strategic reserves, with stockpiles at 263 million barrels—enough for over 250 days of consumption. Negotiations aim to secure more non-Hormuz shipments from Saudi Arabia and raise U.S. crude imports. Long-term Sakhalin-2 contracts have been extended through waivers, indicating the project will remain a core element of Japan’s energy mix in the near term.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The sources provide a consistent picture of the shipment’s origin, destination and policy rationale. No substantive discrepancies were found regarding volume, timing or regulatory status. However, precise details on the cargo’s exact quantity and price terms were not disclosed.
