The United Arab Emirates emerged as Japan’s largest crude oil supplier in April 2025, delivering 34 million barrels and accounting for 45.5 percent of Tokyo’s total oil imports for the month, according to Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Data released by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy shows that Japan imported a total of 74.77 million barrels in April, with 94.1 percent—over 70 million barrels—sourced from Arab countries. The UAE topped the list, followed by Saudi Arabia, which shipped 27.10 million barrels or 36.3 percent of Japan’s imports.
Other key suppliers included Qatar with 5.25 million barrels (7 percent), Kuwait with 2.79 million barrels (3.7 percent), Oman with 1.2 percent, and Sudan with 0.4 percent. These figures underscore the dominant role of Gulf nations in powering Japan’s energy needs.
Non-Arab sources made up a small fraction of imports. The United States contributed 3.9 percent, followed by Ecuador at 1.4 percent, Brunei at 0.2 percent, and Oceania at 0.1 percent.
The latest data highlights Japan’s continued reliance on Middle Eastern crude, particularly from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, to meet its energy demands amid global market fluctuations.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
