Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO: Saudi Arabia maintained its position as top crude oil supplier to Japan in December 2020 with 32.88 million barrels, or 40.6% of the total imports, according to data from Agency for Natural Resources and Energy belonging to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Japan imported a total of 80.98 million barrels during that month, of which, 92.5%, or 74.88 million barrels, were provided by six Arab countries, the agency reported.

Imports from the United Arab Emirates amounted to 25.86 million barrels or 31.9%, while imports from Qatar equaled 7.86 million barrels, or 9.7% of the total.

In Dec, Japan imported 5.9 million barrels, or 7.3%.  from Kuwait, and 1.9 million barrels from Iraq, or 2.4% of the total.

Bahrain and Algeria provided  each 0.2% of the total, while there were no imports from Oman in December, METI data showed. Imports from the natural zone, bordering Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were 0.4% of total imports.

Russia provided 3.29 thousand barrels, or 4.1% of the total. American oil imported by Japan in December amounted to 0.4% of total imports.

American sanctions against Tehran led Japanese oil and energy companies to stop importing Iranian crude since last year. Prior to the sanctions, Iranian oil provided about 5% of Japan’s oil needs.

The figures cited represent the quantities of oil that arrived to refineries, tanks and warehouses located at ports in Japan during the month of December 2020.