Japan Secures Oil Supplies into 2027 Amid Strait of Hormuz Crisis

Tokyo—Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated Tuesday that Japan has secured alternative oil sources sufficient to last into 2027, countering fears of shortages from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The announcement followed the approval of her administration’s record 122.31 trillion yen ($767 billion) budget through March 2027, as economists warn of inflation from disrupted energy flows. Japan sources over 90% of its crude oil from the Middle East, with most shipments transiting the strait—a critical global energy corridor.

“We now have firm prospects for oil supplies past year-end, minimizing reserve drawdowns,” Takaichi told reporters. She highlighted an eight-month strategic reserve, plus a 20% surge in April imports from Middle Eastern routes bypassing the strait compared to 2025, and a planned fourfold increase in U.S. crude from May.

Rejecting demands for a supplementary budget to offset rising energy costs, Takaichi said existing reserve funds could support households. Pressure mounts from the Liberal Democratic Party and industry for oil conservation measures, should the strait blockade drag on.

Takaichi signaled openness to public energy curbs, vowing a “flexible response without excluding options.” She also discussed deepening ties and Middle East de-escalation with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan in a Tuesday call; Japan relies on UAE oil.

Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa, the commodities supply czar, confirmed a Middle East tanker reached Japan Sunday via unspecified routes. Full-scale strait-avoiding imports from the region are slated for May onward, per the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, with reserves bridging gaps for fisheries and agriculture.

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