First Russian oil arrives in Japan since US and Israel’s war with Iran

Japan has reportedly received its first shipment of Russian crude oil since global energy supplies were disrupted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoing Iran conflict.

According to local media reports, a tanker carrying crude from the Sakhalin-2 project arrived off the coast of Imabari in western Japan on Monday, May 4. Reports by TV Tokyo and Asahi Shimbun cited officials from wholesaler Taiyo Oil.

The development comes as Japan faces mounting pressure to secure alternative energy sources, with the country historically relying on the Middle East for about 95 percent of its oil imports.

The supply disruption began after Iran effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of conflict on February 28, causing major disruptions to global oil transportation and driving up energy prices worldwide.

Although sanctions remain in place against Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Sakhalin-2 project in Russia’s far east reportedly remains exempt, allowing Japan to maintain limited energy cooperation.

Reports indicate that Taiyo Oil accepted the shipment at the request of Japan’s economy ministry as part of broader efforts to stabilize domestic supply. The crude is expected to be refined into products including gasoline and naphtha, which is widely used in the production of plastics, paints, and chemical materials.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the global oil shortage is having a serious impact across the Asia-Pacific region. Following talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, she stated that both countries would take urgent measures to maintain stable energy supplies.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, with roughly 20 percent of global oil supplies typically passing through the waterway.