Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO: Saudi oil provided more than third of Japan’s petroleum needs in March 2020 with 33.783 million barrels or 34.9% of total imports, data released by the Agency of Energy and Natural Resource in Tokyo showed.

In March, Japan imported from UAE 37.485 million barrels or 38.7%, while Qatar provided 9.480 million barrels or 9.8%.

Oil imports from Kuwait accounted for 9.034 million barrels or 9.3%.

 Japan imported from Russia 2.828 million barrels or 2.9%.

Arab oil accounted for 90.731 or 93.7%, of Japan’s petroleum needs in March, nearly the same percentage that highlights increasing importance of oil for the Japanese economy.

Few nuclear power reactors are in operation in Japan currently and experts believe alternative energy will get less financial support from the governments that focus now on providing support to the business and people facing the negative impact of coronavirus reduced income and business.

Japan’s total crude oil imports in March amounted to 96.849 million barrels, the agency said.