Japan Sep crude imports fall 2% on year to 4.09 million b/d: METI

Tokyo (Platts)--31Oct2006

Japan imported 19.55 million kl (122.9 million barrels or 4.09 million
b/d) of crude in September 2006, down 2.0% on the year and off 2.3% from the
previous month, according to preliminary figures released by the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry Tuesday.
Imports from the Middle East accounted for 90.3% of Japan's total crude
imports in September, down 0.2% from the same month a year earlier.
Saudi Arabia remained the largest exporter to Japan, followed by the UAE,
Iran, Qatar, Kuwait, Indonesia, and Oman.
Saudi supplies, which accounted for 29.5% of Japan's total crude imports
during the month, were down 0.3% on the year at 5.76 million kl.
Crude throughput for all Japanese refiners was 4.17 million b/d in
September, nearly unchanged from 4.17 million b/d in August.
Both the METI and the Ministry of Finance release data on Japan's monthly
crude imports, but their figures vary due to different accounting practices.
METI's data is based on a monthly report it receives from Japanese refiners
and trading houses. It takes into account barrels lifted during the survey
period, including condensates. The MOF takes into account crude cargoes
cleared by customs during the period and excludes condensates but includes
fuel oil imports.

DETAILS OF SEPTEMBER IMPORTS BY ORIGIN (TABLE)
Country Volume Share (%) %chg %chg
on month on year
Saudi Arabia 5,762,520 29.5 -3.6 -0.3
UAE 5,411,982 27.7 -3.3 -9.2
Iran 2,306,997 11.8 17.6 7.6
Qatar 1,834,853 9.4 -23.3 12.3
Kuwait 1,134,913 5.8 -13.9 -7.5
Indonesia 500,373 2.6 29.2 16.8
Oman 449,609 2.3 184.7 -5.7
Sudan 452,207 2.3 -3.7 7.0
Neutral Zone 397,967 2.0 - -16.7
Iraq 311,422 1.6 0.3 -0.2
Other 988,733 5.0 -17.7 -9.0
Total 19,551,576 100.0 -2.3 -2.0
Unit: kl
Source: Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry


 

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