Foreign media: Japan is considering whether to purchase Russian crude oil after the 30-day sanctions exemption issued by the United States, and a Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry official stated that the decision will be made by comprehensively considering international situations and national interests.
The United States' latest exemption allows countries to purchase sanctioned Russian oil currently stranded at sea. Treasury Secretary Bensinger said the move aims to stabilize the global energy market, which has been volatile due to the US-Iran war. Japan imports 94% of its crude oil in 2025 from the Middle East, with 93% transported through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been almost blocked due to the war between the US, Israel, and Iran.
To address the global supply disruption caused by the Middle East conflict, Japan plans to release about 80 million barrels of crude oil from its strategic reserves, equivalent to 45 days of supply, and has asked domestic refiners to use the reserve crude oil to ensure domestic oil supply, while actively seeking alternative supply sources from the United States, Central Asia, and South America.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859560588479555/
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