Japan is set to lift crude oil imports in May after April’s slump, with volumes expected around 1.7 million barrels per day as refiners secure alternative supply routes and replacement cargoes while the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed. The rebound would still leave imports below year-earlier levels, underlining how deeply the disruption has altered normal crude trade flows into Northeast Asia.
For TankerMap readers, the key signal is the shift in tanker employment and sourcing patterns rather than demand alone. A sustained rebound driven by alternative procurement points to longer-haul voyages, tighter vessel positioning and continued pressure on regional oil shipping logistics tied to Hormuz-related disruption.