Japan will import Russian crude oil for the first time since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict in February, as energy shortages strain Asian economies. A tanker carrying oil from the Sakhalin‑2 project, involving Gazprom, Mitsubishi, and Mitsui, departed in late April and is bound for Ehime Prefecture. The shipment, purchased by Taiyo Oil Co., is exempt from Western sanctions imposed after the Russia‑Ukraine war. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry confirmed the move as part of efforts to secure supply amid restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, where one‑fifth of global oil flows.
Source: Newstimehub
