Japan buys 1.5 mln barrels of Russian oil at average $103 in May-June

Japan's Russian Oil Imports Rise as Trade Ties Deepen

Japan purchased about 1.53 million barrels of Russian oil in May and June at an average price of $103 per barrel, according to statistical data published by Japan's Ministry of Finance and calculations reported by TASS. The imports totaled 243,000 kiloliters, valued at 25.7 billion yen (about $157.6 million).

The purchases were made by major Japanese oil companies, including Taiyo Oil, Idemitsu Kosan, and ENEOS, which told TASS the decision to buy Russian oil was driven by a desire to diversify supply sources. The shipments consisted of oil produced under the Sakhalin-2 LNG project, and TASS noted that these supplies are linked to liquefied natural gas deliveries and are exempt from sanctions.

Coverage Comparison

Trade between Japan and Russia increased by 15% in the first six months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, reaching 670 billion yen (about $4.1 billion), according to TASS calculations based on statistics from Japan's Ministry of Finance. Japanese imports from Russia rose by 10.9% to 456.6 billion yen ($2.8 billion), while Japanese exports to Russia grew by 27.7% to 213.4 billion yen ($1.3 billion).

Russian energy products account for about 60% of the total value of Russian exports to Japan. Among energy imports, purchases of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) rose by 0.3% compared with the first six months of 2025, while purchases of Russian coal increased by 15.8%.

Beyond energy, Japan's imports of Russian iron and steel increased by 57.9%, and imports of medical products from Russia doubled, rising by 100%. On the export side, shipments of passenger cars to Russia rose by 32.3%, while auto parts exports fell by 4.9%. Passenger cars and auto parts together remain the largest category of Japanese exports to Russia, accounting for about 70% of the total.

Japanese exports of other goods to Russia declined in the first half of 2026: medical products fell by 19%, plastics by 18.7%, rubber by 16.2%, paper by 20.2%, computers by 17.9%, and computers— a separate line—by 17.9%. No additional detail on those declines was provided in the statistical breakdown.

Key Claims

• Trade turnover: Total trade between Japan and Russia rose by 15% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, reaching 670 billion yen (about $4.1 billion), according to Japanese Ministry of Finance statistics reported by TASS.
• Japanese imports from Russia: Increased by 10.9% to 456.6 billion yen (about $2.8 billion). LNG imports rose by 0.3%; coal purchases increased by 15.8%.
• Russian oil imports: Japan purchased about 1.53 million barrels of Russian oil in May and June at an average price of $103 per barrel, per TASS calculations based on ministry data. The oil came from the Sakhalin-2 LNG project and was linked to LNG contracts.
• Energy share: Russian energy products account for about 60% of the total value of Russian exports to Japan.
• Iron, steel, and medical products: Supplies of Russian iron and steel increased by 57.9%, and exports of medical products to Japan doubled.
• Japanese exports to Russia: Increased by 27.7% to 213.4 billion yen (about $1.3 billion), driven largely by a 32.3% rise in passenger car shipments.