Khaldon Azhari 

TOKYO: Japan’s import of crude oil slightly decreased in April 2022, reaching 87.59 million barrels, compared to 89.15 million barrels in the previous month, with oil from Arab countries accounting for the largest share of 82.20 million barrels or 93.8% of the total, according to data from Natural Resources and Energy Agency of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Saudi Arabia provided 38.49 million barrels, or 43.9% of the total in April, compared to 30.51 million barrels, or 34.2%, in March. Japan imported 28.08 million barrels from the United Arab Emirates, ranking it second with 32.1% percent of imports that month.

Kuwait supplied 6.62 million barrels (7.6%) of April’s total, Qatar with 6.23 million barrels (7.1%). Bahrain provided 1.17 million barrels (1.3%), and Oman provided about 1.8 million barrels (1.7%).  

Russia, the only European source, provided 2.9% (2.53 million barrels) of the total, remaining in the list of crude providers. The Japanese government exempted the energy sector from sanctions it imposed on Russia.