A Japanese oil refinery, Taiyo Oil Co., imported Russian crude aboard a tanker subject to U.S. and EU sanctions, Bloomberg reported on June 9, citing vessel tracking data.
The refinery received 600,000 barrels of Sakhalin Blend crude that had been transported by the tanker Voyager. The ship loaded the oil on May 25 at the Prigorodny terminal on the southern edge of Sakhalin Island, off Russia’s east coast.
The report noted that Japan is allowed to import Sakhalin Blend for energy security reasons. The EU’s 17th package of sanctions against Russia includes an exemption for these imports through the end of June 2026. Japan also benefits from an exemption in U.S. sanctions on Russia, which expires on June 28 and is usually extended.
A Taiyo Oil spokesperson confirmed the oil supply, noting that the company purchased the crude at the request of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. The ministry said it had contacted the U.S. government and obtained permission to use sanctioned vessels to import oil. A ministry official added that the absence of secondary EU sanctions allows Japan to use such tankers without repercussions.
Despite sanctions, Russian crude continues reaching China and India, often at significant premiums due to logistical complications like chartering non-sanctioned tankers at steep rates. Reuters reported that 36% of India’s and about 20% of China’s crude imports in 2024 were Russian.
