First Azerbaijani oil delivery reaches Japan

A tanker carrying crude oil from Azerbaijan has arrived in Japan for the first time since the recent escalation of tensions around Iran, according to reports by Japanese public television cited by TASS.

The shipment was purchased by ENEOS Holdings, one of Japan’s largest refining companies and a major operator of fuel retail networks across the country.

The tanker delivered approximately 45,000 kiloliters of crude oil, equivalent to around 16% of Japan’s daily oil consumption. The delivery forms part of Tokyo’s broader strategy to diversify its energy supply sources amid concerns over instability affecting shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Japanese authorities have previously emphasised that the country maintains sufficient strategic reserves and has access to alternative supply routes. These include continued imports from Persian Gulf countries as well as increased energy purchases from the United States. Officials have also indicated that national oil reserves are being utilised to help stabilise the domestic market.

Separately, Japan recently resumed limited imports of Russian crude for the first time in nearly a year. The purchase was made by Taiyo Oil, with a tanker carrying oil from Sakhalin arriving in Japan in early May.

Japan began releasing oil from its strategic reserves on March 16, with volumes sufficient to meet domestic demand for approximately 45 days. The supplies are being sold to wholesalers at relatively low prices, broadly in line with levels seen before the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

By Tamilla Hasanova