Japan’s crude oil imports during the peak summer demand season in July tumbled to their lowest level for the month in more than five decades, a stern reminder to major crude producers that Asia’s third biggest petroleum consumer may struggle to register any meaningful oil demand recovery during the pandemic. Receive daily email alerts, subscriber notes & personalize your experience. Register Now Japan’s July crude imports, which were the lowest for the month since 1967, plunged 31.9% year on year to 2.09 million b/d, according to preliminary data released Aug. 31 by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The reduced crude imports came as Japanese refiners slashed shipments from key Middle Eastern crude suppliers on a yearly […]