Changing Japan’s Crude Oil Procurement: US Cargoes Become the Mainstream　変わる日本の原油調達、米国配船が主流に

Prime Minister Takaichi Says “100% Alternative Procurement” Achieved in July

How Will VLCC and Aframax Deployment Change Under the Shift Away from the Middle East?

高市首相、7月に「代替調達100％」

「脱中東」でVLCC・アフラ型の配船はどう変わるか

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated on 11 June at a ministerial meeting on the Middle East situation that alternative crude oil procurement routes not passing through the Strait of Hormuz are expected to achieve “a recovery equivalent to approximately 100% year-on-year procurement levels” in July.

Japan’s shift away from Middle Eastern crude oil sources is already reshaping deployment strategies for VLCCs and Aframax tankers operated by Japanese shipping companies. Increased tonne-mile demand, tighter vessel supply-demand balances and rising transportation costs could influence tanker market conditions and domestic petroleum prices in the months ahead.

■The full article covers the following topics (approximately 2,000 words)

→ The Takaichi administration’s policy of shifting crude oil procurement away from the Middle East is expected to reach 100% alternative procurement in July. The article examines whether a supply system that does not rely on strategic petroleum reserves can be realised.

→ The US Gulf Coast is emerging as a new major procurement source. How will deployment strategies for VLCCs and Aframax tankers change as a result?

→ There is a significant difference in voyage duration between the Middle East-Japan route and the US-Japan route. The article explains how the required tanker fleet capacity changes in order to transport the same volume of crude oil.

→ Increased tonne-mile demand could provide support for VLCC freight markets. The article analyses developments currently unfolding in the tanker sector.

→ The article explores transportation costs and operational risks emerging from the shift towards US crude, including the Panama Canal, fuel expenses and OPA90 compliance requirements.

(Please read the full article, available in both English and Japanese. The Japanese-language version follows the English article.)

変わる日本の原油調達、米国配船が主流に

高市首相、7月に「代替調達100％」

「脱中東」でVLCC・アフラ型の配船はどう変わるか

　高市早苗首相は11日、中東情勢に関する関係閣僚会議で、ホルムズ海峡を経由しない代替原油調達について、7月は「前年比で約10割の調達回復にめどがついた」と表明した。

　日本の原油調達先の「脱中東」は、日本の海運会社が運航するVLCCやアフラマックス型タンカーの配船戦略を大きく変えつつあり、トンマイル需要の増加による船腹需給の引き締まりや輸送コスト上昇が、今後のタンカー市況や国内石油価格にも影響を与える可能性がある。

■記事本文では以下の内容を読むことができます（記事全文約2,000文字）

→高市政権が進める「脱中東」の原油調達は、7月に代替調達100％へ。国家備蓄に頼らない供給体制の実現性を検証。

→米国メキシコ湾岸が新たな主要調達先として浮上。VLCCやアフラマックス型タンカーの配船戦略はどのように変わるのか。

→中東―日本航路と米国―日本航路では航海日数に大きな差。同じ原油量を運ぶために必要な船腹量の変化を解説。

→トンマイル需要の増加がVLCC市況を押し上げる可能性も。タンカー市場で何が起きているのかを分析。

→パナマ運河、燃料費、OPA90対応など、米国シフトで新たに浮上する輸送コストと運航リスクの実態に迫る。

（続きは英語と日本語で書かれた本文でお読みください。日本語の記事は英文記事に続いて掲載されています）