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May 29 (Reuters) - Japan's crude oil imports fell nearly 66% in April from a year earlier, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) said on Friday, as the U.S.-Iran conflict disrupted supplies from the Middle East.

The world's fifth-largest oil importer, which relies heavily on oil from the Middle East, imported 850,000 barrels per day (4.07 million kilolitres) of crude in April, METI data showed. (1 kilolitre is equal to 6.2898 barrels)

Imports from the Middle East fell 68%, the data showed. The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran that began on February 28 has severely curtailed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for roughly a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supply.

Shipments from Japan's two largest suppliers - Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - dropped 60% or more, according to the data.

Several crude oil tankers have left the Gulf this month, although energy flows via the key waterway still remained far lower than pre-war levels.

Refiners in Japan and elsewhere in Asia deepened run cuts in April and May due to oil supply shortage.

Japan's domestic oil product sales last month fell 11.3% from a year earlier to 2.04 million bpd, the data showed.

Gasoline sales dropped 2.6% to 693,875 bpd, while kerosene sales were down 13.3% to 120,524 bpd. Sales of petrochemical feedstock naphtha fell 35.6% to 406,231 bpd.

The table below outlines Japan's product sales, imports and other statistics for April. 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 Apr Mar M/M(%) Yr/Yr(%)

Crude Imports 853,329 2,107,288 -59.5 -65.7

Processed 2,184,993 2,257,944 -3.2 -13.7

Shipment 1,768 920 92.3 703.8

Oil product sales 2,042,789 2,287,377 -10.7 -11.3

gasoline 693,875 730,640 -5.0 -2.6

kerosene 120,524 250,772 -51.9 -13.3

naphtha 406,231 448,599 -9.4 -35.6

Product imports 352,250 355,432 -0.9 -36.2

gasoline 92,028 61,405 49.9 73.1

kerosene 1,233 21,301 -94.2 -96.3

naphtha 231,311 240,870 -4.0 -43.7

Product exports 286,979 497,727 -42.3 -31.3

gasoline 20,489 80,713 -74.6 -52.5

kerosene - - - -

jet fuel 132,043 138,251 -4.5 -15.3

gas oil 26,047 90,002 -71.1 -73.3

fuel oil B, C 105,842 178,818 -40.8 -6.8

Refinery Output 2,081,408 2,287,359 -9.0 -11.4

gasoline 650,506 707,652 -8.1 -10.9

kerosene 129,381 164,774 -21.5 2.7

naphtha 190,090 202,684 -6.2 -22.8

jet fuel 206,085 216,542 -4.8 -5.8

gas oil 568,584 551,916 3.0 -13.4

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

Crude 54.9 59.0 -6.9 -22.1

Products 52.1 49.9 4.3 -9.7

gasoline 11.4 10.2 11.1 2.6

kerosene 7.5 7.3 3.1 -23.2

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 Apr 2026 Share M/M Yr/Yr

Total 4,070,061 100.0 -60.8 -65.7

Middle East 3,563,405 87.6 -64.2 -68.0

Saudi Arabia 1,821,610 44.8 -66.3 -57.7

Arab-L 389,216 -

Arab-H 578,823 -

Arab-M 177,640 -

Arab-E-L 528,742 -

Arab-S-L 147,189 -

Qatar 20,606 0.5 -84.2 -97.5

A-Shahen 20,606 -

Oman 71,465 1.8 -9.7 -51.5

Oman 71,465 -

United Arab Emirates 1,649,724 40.5 -59.1 -69.4

Murban 1,456,383 -

U-Zakum 74,056 -

DAS 62,207 -

Umm-Lulu 57,078 -

South East Asia 79,527 2.0 67.0

Malaysia 31,755 0.8

Sepat 31,755 -

Brunei 47,772 1.2 0.3

Champion 47,772 -

North America 314,221 7.7 22.0 -32.6

United States of America 314,221 7.7 22.0 -32.6

Wtim 314,221 -

Central and South America 95,553 2.3 -2.5 -42.5

Ecuador 95,553 2.3 -2.5 -42.5

Napo 95,553 -

Oceania 17,355 0.4 -46.9 31.5

Australia 17,355 0.4 -46.9 31.5

Wandoo 17,355 -