Japan receives first Azerbaijani crude since Iran war
A tanker carrying Azerbaijani crude is scheduled to arrive in Yokohama on Tuesday as Japan seeks alternatives to Middle Eastern supplies following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The nation has also tapped strategic stockpiles to maintain 205 days of consumption during the regional crisis.
Japan will receive its first cargo of Central Asian crude oil since late February as it seeks alternatives to Middle Eastern supply. A tanker carrying Azerbaijan crude is scheduled to arrive Tuesday at Yokohama for ENEOS HOLDINGS INC. The shipment marks a pivot for Japan, which previously relied on the Middle East for 95% of its oil.
### Diversifying Beyond the Strait of Hormuz Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) official Narumi Hosokawa said the cargo is the first from Central Asia since the Iran war began. The conflict involving the United States and Israel led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This blockade curtailed the majority of tanker traffic, forcing Japanese refineries to move away from their traditional reliance on Gulf crude.
