Japan Crude Imports Fell 66% in April

AI Summary

Japan's crude oil imports fell sharply by 66% in April compared to the previous year due to supply disruptions in the Middle East. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) data indicates a substantial decline in imports from the Middle Eastern region, which previously accounted for over 90% of Japan's crude oil supply.

Amid the supply disruption in the Middle East, Japan’s crude oil imports crashed by 66% in April from the same month last year, official Japanese data showed on Friday. Japan imported 4.07 million kilolitres, or about 850,000 barrels per day (bpd), of crude oil last month, down by 65.7% from the April 2025 levels, the monthly petroleum statistics of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) showed. Crude imports from the Middle East region, which delivered more than 90% of Japan’s total crude imports before the war, plunged…