Japan Relies on Offshore Oil Transfers as Middle East Risks Rise

By Weilun Soon

Apr 7, 2026 (Bloomberg) –Japan is relying on ship?to?ship oil transfers far from the Middle East to secure crude supplies while keeping its tankers out of a conflict zone that has become too risky for crews and vessels.

The Kisogawa, a very-large crude carrier, is en route to Hokkaido after receiving about 1.2 million barrels of Murban oil from Rio De Janeiro Energy while at sea off Linggi on Malaysia’s west coast on Sunday, ship-tracking data show. The operation comes just a week after another cargo of Murban was also moved at sea and is now bound for