Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO: Saudi Arabia maintained its position as top crude oil supplier to Japan in February 2021 providing the amount of 33.613 million barrels, or 46.5% of the total imports, according to data from Agency for Natural Resources and Energy belonging to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Showing a decreasing trend, Japan imported a total of 72.233 million barrels during that month compared to 80.01 million barrels imported one month earlier in January 2021.

The share of Arab oil in February, however, increased slightly by one tenth percent from January to 93.6% of total Japanese imports or 67.582 million barrels provided by six Arab countries including the Natural Zone that borders Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, according to data.

Imports from the United Arab Emirates amounted to 18.742 or 25.9% of the total, a decrease from 24.25 million barrels or 30.3% in January 2021.

Kuwait provided 7 million barrels or 9.7% of total imports, a notable increase from 4.4 million barrels, or 5.6%, in January.

Imports from Qatar equaled to 6.797 million barrels, or 9.4% of the total.

Bahrain provided 1.11 million barrels or 1.5% of the total, while imports from Algeria amounted to 195.7 thousand barrels 0.3% or the total, METI data showed.

The natural zone provided 110,044 barrels or 0.2% of total imports.

Russia, the only European source, provided 1.983 million barrels of crude oil, or 2.7% of the Japanese total. Ecuador increased its share to nearly 1.848 million barrels, or 2.6% of the total imports.

Countries of South East Asia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand provided Japan with 718,770 barrels (1%). Crude imports from Australia in Febuary was 0.1% of the total imports.

The figures cited represent the quantities of oil that arrived to refineries, tanks and warehouses located at ports in Japan during the month of February 2021.