Japan's First Oil Tanker Since Iran Conflict to Arrive in Persian Gulf

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced that the first oil tanker to traverse the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the Iran conflict is set to arrive soon. According to Odaily, the supertanker 'Idemitsu Maru,' which passed through the waterway at the end of April, is expected to dock as early as next Monday. The vessel is carrying 2 million barrels of Saudi crude oil and is en route to Idemitsu Kosan Co.'s Aichi refinery. The Middle East conflict has caused an unprecedented energy supply shock, prompting major importers across Asia to seek alternative shipments of crude oil and natural gas globally. Like other developed nations, Japan has taken steps to utilize strategic reserves to mitigate the impact of the conflict.