Japan receives Middle Eastern crude oil via ship-to-ship transfers at sea, with underloaded oil tankers highlighting tight supply

汇通财经2026/04/16 09:27

Show original

Bitget offers one-stop trading for cryptocurrencies, stocks, and gold. Trade now!

A welcome pack worth 6200 USDT for new users! Sign up now!

An oil tanker conducting a ship-to-ship transfer to receive Middle Eastern crude is heading to Japan, but the tanker is not fully loaded, highlighting the extraordinary measures Japanese refiners are taking to rapidly secure supplies.
According to vessel tracking data, the very large crude carrier named Bright Horizon is currently sailing south from waters off Mumbai, with its destination marked as Shiiya, Japan. On Monday, the tanker received a batch of Oman crude via ship-to-ship transfer from a Suezmax-sized oil tanker named Shenlong.
The Iran war has effectively led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off crude shipments from Japan’s main Persian Gulf suppliers, and Japan has been rushing to secure oil supply.
Japanese refiners are accelerating U.S. crude imports by opting for smaller oil tankers, which can transit the Panama Canal, instead of using larger vessels that must take the much longer route around Africa.
The case of Bright Horizon is unusual, as sailing to a single destination without a full load is generally not economical. Freight rates have also surged due to the Middle East conflict, further increasing costs.
This is the third instance in recent weeks of ship-to-ship crude transfers involving tankers owned by Japanese shipowners. Japan is relying on such operations to ensure oil supplies while avoiding sending vessels into this high-risk conflict zone.

Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

Understand the market, then trade.

Bitget offers one-stop trading for cryptocurrencies, stocks, and gold.

Trade now！

Japan receives Middle Eastern crude oil via ship-to-ship transfers at sea, with underloaded oil tankers highlighting tight supply

You may also like

Crypto prices