A tanker carrying US oil arrived in Japan on Sunday, marking the first such shipment from the United States since the Iran war began in late February.
According to Cosmo Energy Holdings Co that procured the crude oil from the United States, the tanker, which arrived in Tokyo Bay, transported 145,000 kilolitres, equivalent to half a day of domestic consumption.
The US-Israeli conflict with Iran has led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy shipments. Japan relies on the Middle East for more than 90 per cent of its crude oil imports, most of which pass through the strait.
The tanker departed Texas on 22 March and transited the Panama Canal, which can accommodate smaller vessels.
The Japanese government and oil wholesalers have been trying to secure oil from alternative routes to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
In addition to the United States, the government will also be procuring oil from other sources such as South America and Central Asia.
Kyodo
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