Japan is set to receive its first shipment of Azerbaijani oil since the escalation of tensions in the Middle East began. According to Operative Information Center-OMM, citing Reuters, a tanker carrying Azerbaijani crude is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Yokohama on Tuesday.
The move comes as Tokyo seeks to mitigate risks associated with potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Narumi Hosokawa, Deputy Director-General for Crisis Management at Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), confirmed that this shipment for the Japanese company Eneos marks the first delivery of oil from Azerbaijan to Japan since the regional conflict intensified. Prior to the onset of military operations in the region in late February, approximately 95% of Japan's oil imports originated from Middle Eastern countries. However, the threat of shipping blockades has forced the Japanese government to aggressively seek alternative supply routes.
In addition to Azerbaijan, Japan has increased its oil purchases from the United States and continues to import raw materials from Russia's Sakhalin-2 project under specific sanction exemptions. While Japanese refineries have historically been configured to process Middle Eastern grades, the country is rapidly diversifying its energy portfolio. To compensate for supply deficits, Tokyo has also begun utilizing its strategic petroleum reserves, which, as of May 8, were sufficient to cover 205 days of domestic consumption.
Azerbaijan plays a critical role in global energy security, primarily through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, which transports high-quality light crude from the Caspian Sea to international markets via the Mediterranean. As a reliable energy partner for both Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan has consistently expanded its export geography. The resumption of supplies to Japan underscores the strategic importance of Azerbaijani energy resources in stabilizing global markets during periods of geopolitical volatility in the Middle East.
