Japan Reconsiders Oil Supply Routes as Hormuz Risk Reshapes Imports

Tokyo, 29 September 2026 – Japan is examining how to reduce the vulnerability of its oil supply to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a debate with consequences for refiners, shipping costs and energy security across Asia. Officials have discussed alternative producers and transport routes, but the discussion should not be mistaken for an approved target to cut Middle Eastern crude purchases by a fixed amount.

The exposure is considerable. Before the current disruption, more than 90% of Japan’s crude imports came from the Middle East, according to Japan’s industry ministry. A high concentration can be efficient when long-term relationships, refinery configurations and freight networks are established. It becomes a strategic liability when a single maritime passage can delay multiple suppliers at once. The resulting risk is not limited to physical shortages: insurance, charter rates and the working capital needed to carry inventories can rise even when cargoes eventually arrive.