Tokyo: Kuwait's crude oil exports to Japan in September experienced a 20.8 percent decrease from the previous year, amounting to 3.36 million barrels, or 112,000 barrels per day (bpd). This marks the first decline in two months, as indicated by government data released on Friday.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Kuwait remains Japan's fourth-largest oil supplier, providing 4.8 percent of Japan's total crude imports. This is a decrease from 5.8 percent in the same month last year, as reported by the Japanese Natural Resources and Energy Agency in a preliminary report.
Japan's overall crude oil imports in September saw a 2.9 percent year-on-year decline, amounting to 2.36 million bpd. This marks the fourth consecutive monthly decrease. Shipments from the Middle East constituted 94.7 percent of Japan's total imports, which is an increase of 2.0 percentage points compared to the previous year.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was Japan's largest oil supplier last month, with imports from the UAE increasing by 5.1 percent from the previous year to 1.10 million bpd. Saudi Arabia followed with 859,000 bpd, showing a decrease of 7.8 percent. Qatar and Ecuador ranked third and fifth, supplying 116,000 bpd and 50,000 bpd, respectively.
Japan is currently the world's third-largest oil consumer, following China and the United States.