May 4, 2026
TOKYO – A tanker carrying Russian crude oil is expected to arrive in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, as early as Monday, as Japan seeks alternative crude supplies to the Middle East. According to the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, this will be the first import of Russian crude since the Strait of Hormuz became effectively blocked amid the worsening situation in the Middle East.
The crude was produced at Sakhalin-2, an oil and natural gas development project in the Russian Far East, and was procured by Taiyo Oil Co., a Japanese oil wholesaler. The shipment is expected to be received at the company’s Shikoku refinery facility in Imabari.
Crude from Sakhalin-2 is not covered by Western sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to Taiyo Oil, the company was asked by the economy ministry to accept the shipment.
The tanker carrying the crude departed Sakhalin in late April, according to Taiyo Oil and MarineTraffic, a publicly available ship-tracking website.
AloJapan.com