Japan’s crude oil imports collapsed by 66% in April compared to the same month last year, official data released Friday showed. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry reported the nation brought in just 4.07 million kilolitres, roughly 850,000 barrels per day, marking a 65.7% decline from April 2025 levels.
The steep drop stems directly from Middle East supply disruptions, a region that supplied over 90% of Japan’s crude before the current conflict. With tanker routes disrupted and key producers facing constraints, Japan’s refineries have been forced to draw down strategic inventories and seek spot cargoes from alternative sources.
Refinery utilization rates likely fell sharply as feedstock shortages rippled through the country’s refining system. Japan, the world’s fourth-largest crude importer, has little domestic production to fall back on, making it acutely vulnerable to supply chain shocks in the Persian Gulf.
In response, the government is reportedly accelerating contingency talks with partners in Southeast Asia and the United States for emergency crude allocations. The crisis underscores the fragility of Asian energy security, with Japan’s import dependency reaching critical levels as geopolitical tensions persist.
While the data confirms severe short-term disruption, some analysts caution that April figures may reflect temporary logistical bottlenecks rather than a structural shift in Japan’s crude demand. A recovery in imports could follow if shipping lanes stabilize and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict gain traction.