TOKYO: Japan’s oil sales were 13.92 million kilolitres (2.92 million barrels per day) last month, down 2.3 percent from a year earlier, data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed on Wednesday, the lowest volume for April in at least 28 years.
Oil demand in the world’s third-biggest economy has been declining gradually for more than a decade, reflecting a falling population and a shift to more efficient vehicles and equipment.
Japan’s crude oil imports in April rose 1.8 percent from a year earlier to 3.53 million barrels per day (16.84 million kilolitres), marking the first year-on-year gain in three months, the data showed.
Meanwhile, Japan imported South Blend crude from Colombia and Zhaikmunai condensate from Kazakhstan for the first time last month, a METI official said.
