TOKYO: A tanker carrying United States (US) oil arrived in Japan on Sunday, marking the first such shipment from the US since the Iran war began in late February, Kyodo News Agency reported.
According to Cosmo Energy Holdings, which procured the crude oil from the US, the tanker transported 145,000 kilolitres (145 million litres) upon arrival in Tokyo Bay, equivalent to about 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 West Asia for more than 90 per cent of its crude oil imports, most of which pass through the strait.
The tanker departed Texas on March 22 and transited the Panama Canal, which can accommodate smaller vessels.
The Japanese government and oil wholesalers have been trying to secure supplies from alternative routes to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
In addition to the US, the government will also procure oil from other sources, such as South America and Central Asia. – BERNAMA-KYODO
