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In 2024, Japan’s largest crude oil importer was Saudi Arabia, with close to ** million kiloliters. The United Arab Emirates followed closely with around ** million kiloliters. In total, Japan imports almost 95 percent of its oil from the Middle East. This dependency is a big risk for the East Asian country, which can be seen during the war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran in early 2026.

What is fueling the nation?

While Japan’s share of energy demand is among the highest on a global basis, it has virtually no fossil fuels, making it heavily import dependent for all kinds of fossil fuels. As a consequence, Japan has become one of the largest oil importers in the world, having consumed around 147.2 million metric tons of oil in 2024. The largest amount of oil comes from OPEC member states in the Middle East. 

Future energy trends

Even though oil still accounted for the largest share of primary energy consumption in recent years, Japan’s crude oil imports have hit a record low since 1979. While this is mainly attributed to the shrinking population and slow economic growth, factors such as improved energy efficiency, the increased use of alternative fuels as well as the slight rise in nuclear power output have contributed to the decrease in demand.