Regulatory
Japan — oil import rules
4 product categories open to private trade, 0 restricted, 0 blocked. These are the same rules the OilFlow matching engine uses when screening listings destined for Japan.
Product-by-product
- Crude oil
- Allowed for private tradeOpen commercial market with METI licence. Major importers: ENEOS, Idemitsu Kosan, Cosmo Energy, Fuji Oil, INPEX/JOGMEC. Quality to JIS standards (K 2202 / K 2204).
- Refined products (diesel, fuel oil, gasoline, jet)
- Allowed for private tradeMETI 'Petroleum Refining Business Act' / 'Quality Assurance Act' compliance for distribution.
- LPG
- Allowed for private tradeStandard licensing applies. No special restrictions recorded.
- LNG
- Allowed for private tradeHistorically world's largest LNG importer. JERA (TEPCO/Chubu JV), Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Toho Gas; trading houses (Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Itochu, Sumitomo, Marubeni).
Frequently asked
- Can private companies import crude oil into Japan?
- Open commercial market with METI licence. Major importers: ENEOS, Idemitsu Kosan, Cosmo Energy, Fuji Oil, INPEX/JOGMEC. Quality to JIS standards (K 2202 / K 2204).
- Are refined products (diesel, fuel oil, gasoline) tradeable by private importers in Japan?
- METI 'Petroleum Refining Business Act' / 'Quality Assurance Act' compliance for distribution.
- Does OilFlow screen listings against Japan regulations?
- Yes. The same rule table shown on this page drives the matching engine — buyer-side listings that can't legally clear in Japan are rejected before they reach a seller.