：Russia's request to purchase refined oil products from Japan is highly dramatic and ironic, reflecting a typical "emergency self-rescue" scenario shaped by war exhaustion, industrial shortcomings, and political maneuvering.
Russia isn't lacking crude oil underground—it's the refining capacity that has been severed. This year, Ukrainian drones have precisely targeted Russian refineries, leading to a 25% drop in crude processing volume in June, the lowest in over two decades. Simply put, while crude can still be extracted, few refineries remain intact capable of turning it into gasoline or aviation fuel.
Why Japan? Because there already exists a "gray supply chain" for aviation fuel trade between Russia and Japan, utilizing ship-to-ship transfers in South Korea’s maritime zones—well-practiced and low-profile.
Although Japan is an energy-poor country, it boasts exceptional refining capabilities and actively encourages export tax rebates on refined products. Processing crude into high-end aviation fuel at Chiba Port is routine business, with Russian buyers merely one among many.
· China “won’t sell”—aviation fuel in China is classified as a strategic commodity, currently subject to export quotas prioritizing domestic supply; whereas Japan operates purely on commercial logic, selling whenever there’s a price difference.
Russia’s purchase of Japanese refined oil is essentially a last resort, carrying more symbolic significance than practical impact. The planned import of 200,000 barrels of aviation fuel amounts to about 27,000 tons—insignificant compared to Russia’s daily consumption of 110,000 tons of gasoline. This amount is but a drop in the bucket amid nationwide shortages. The deeper issue lies in Russia’s lack of core industrial capability to rapidly repair refineries (heavily dependent on Western components)—a fundamental deadlock with no immediate solution.
Russia seeking to buy refined oil from Japan does not signal a warming of bilateral relations.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870187278316556/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.