Adds details in paragraphs 1-6

By Yuka Obayashi

TOKYO, June 30 (Reuters) - Japan's crude oil imports fell 38.4% in May to 1.48 million barrels per day (7.29 million kilolitres) from a year earlier, data showed on Tuesday, with higher imports from the United States helping offset a drop in Middle Eastern supplies.

Despite the fall, the May figure came in sharply above April's, according to Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

The country's crude oil imports fell 66% to 853,329 bpd (4.07 million kl) year-on-year in April, the lowest level in more than 60 years as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran that began on February 28 severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for roughly a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

Imports from the Middle East were down 68% in April. (1 kilolitre is equal to 6.2898 barrels)

In May, imports from the Middle East fell 49.7%, with shipments from Japan's two largest suppliers - Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - declining 58% and 33.3%, respectively, the data showed.

To compensate, imports from the United States surged 74.8% to 330,999 bpd (1.63 million kl) from a year earlier. Japan also imported just over 20,000 bpd or 100,000 kilolitres of crude from Azerbaijan and Russia.

Japan sourced 94% of its crude oil imports from the Middle East in 2025.

The country's domestic oil product sales last month fell 5.2% from a year earlier to 1.98 million bpd, the data showed.

Gasoline sales dropped 0.9% to 700,436 bpd, while kerosene sales up 10.6% from a year earlier to 72,912 bpd, the data showed.

The table below outlines Japan's product sales, imports and other statistics for May. Figures are converted to bpd from kl unless otherwise noted. Inventory volumes are in millions or barrels. Percentage changes are based on bpd.

Product/Volume May Apr M/M(%) Yr/Yr(%)

Crude Imports 1,479,260 853,329 73.4 -38.4

Processed 2,231,267 2,184,993 2.1 3.0

Shipment 1,555 1,768 -12.0 429.3

Oil product sales 1,979,657 2,042,789 -3.1 -5.2

gasoline 700,436 693,875 0.9 -0.9

kerosene 72,912 120,524 -39.5 10.6

naphtha 450,611 406,231 10.9 -18.8

Product imports 402,764 352,250 14.3 -25.2

gasoline 46,465 92,028 -49.5 -39.9

kerosene - 1,233 - -

naphtha 338,141 231,311 46.2 -16.0

Product exports 279,022 286,979 -2.8 -18.4

gasoline 23,754 20,489 15.9 213.7

kerosene - - - -

jet fuel 131,195 132,043 -0.6 -10.6

gas oil 35,230 26,047 35.3 -46.5

fuel oil B, C 88,275 105,842 -16.6 -21.4

Refinery Output 2,082,277 2,081,408 0.0 2.0

gasoline 653,365 650,506 0.4 0.9

kerosene 147,294 129,381 13.8 27.2

naphtha 192,748 190,090 1.4 -6.2

jet fuel 218,197 206,085 5.9 0.1

gas oil 567,229 568,584 -0.2 5.8

Month end Inventory May Apr M/M(%) Yr/Yr(%)

Crude 63.9 54.9 16.4 -17.8

Products 58.7 52.1 12.6 -5.0

gasoline 11.0 11.4 -3.7 -5.9

kerosene 9.7 7.5 29.2 -16.3

To see Japan’s monthly refinery run rate, click on OPERATE-JP

The table below outlines Japan’s crude oil imports by country. Amounts are in kilolitres.

Country May 2026 Share M/M Yr/Yr

Total 7,290,703 100.0 79.1 -38.4

Middle East 5,387,476 73.9 51.2 -49.7

Saudi Arabia 2,029,913 27.8 11.4 -58.0

Arab-L 1,417,516 -

Arab-H 374,052 -

Arab-E-L 212,919 -

Arab-S-L 25,426 -

Oman 134,628 1.8 88.4

Oman 134,628 -

United Arab Emirates 3,222,935 44.2 95.4 -33.3

Murban 2,905,243 -

U-Zakum 310,054 -

Umm-Lulu 7,638 -

South East Asia 47,732 0.7 -40.0 -0.2

Brunei 47,732 0.7 -0.1 -0.2

Champion 47,732 -

Europe 224,125 3.1

Azerbaijan 103,048 1.4

Azeri-L 103,048 -

Russia 121,077 1.7

Sakhal-B 121,077 -

North America 1,631,370 22.4 419.2 74.8

United States of America 1,631,370 22.4 419.2 74.8

Wtim 1,463,105 -

WTL 168,265 -