In November 2023, Japan saw a significant rise in crude oil imports from Saudi Arabia, which accounted for 42.7% of its total oil intake. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry reported that Japan’s overall oil imports for the month amounted to 77.89 million barrels. Of this volume, a staggering 94.6% (73.68 million barrels) came from six Arab nations: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Sudan.
The UAE was the second-largest supplier, providing Japan with approximately 29.27 million barrels, translating to 37.6% of its total imports. Kuwait’s contribution stood at 7 million barrels (9%), while Qatar furnished 3.62 million barrels (4.7%). Oman and Sudan delivered around 500,000 barrels (0.6%) and a modest 0.2% of Japan’s imports, respectively.
Amid the ongoing prohibition on oil imports from Iran and Russia, Japan diversified its sources, with the United States accounting for 3.1% of its oil imports. Central and South America contributed 1.4%, Southeast Asia 0.4%, and Oceania 0.3%. Crude oil remains a critical energy source for Japan, meeting roughly one-third of its energy requirements.