Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO: Crude oil imported from Arab countries in July reached 98% of total Japanese imports, a record that reflected high dependence on the region for generating energy to run the Japanese economy.

Japan imported a total of 64.587 million barrels during July, of which 63.163 million barrels came from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Sudan, Libya, and Algeria, data from the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy that belong to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed.

The UAE remained Japan’s top provider of crude oil in July 2021 with 25.364 million barrels or 39.3% of total imports; Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, ranked second with 22.786 million barrels or 35.3% of the total.

Kuwait provided 7.202 million barrels, or 11.2% of Japan’s total imports, while Qatar equaled 5.788 million barrels or 9% of the total. Bahrain supplied 684,735 barrels (1.1%) while Oman provided 379,519 barrels or 0.6%.

Arab countries in Africa, Sudan, Libya, and Algeria supplied Japan with 0.3%, 0.4%, and 0.8% respectively of its total crude oil imports.

Around 2% of oil imported to Japan in July came from Thailand (0.1%), Russia (0.7), Ecuador (1.1%), and Australia (0.3). A METI official told Arab News Japan that the error in the data, due to shipments’ registration delay sometimes, is very marginal.

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

Oil generates about one-third of Japan’s energy.