South Korea is seeking alternative oil supplies from Kazakhstan as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz expose its reliance on Middle Eastern energy routes.
As tensions in the Middle East continue to disrupt established supply chains, South Korea is moving to reduce its dependence on traditional oil routes, with Kazakhstan increasingly viewed as a viable alternative.
The shift reflects a more cautious approach among Asian importers, as instability around the Strait of Hormuz begins to translate into tangible risks for energy security.
According to Reuters, a senior envoy representing President Lee Jae-myung is expected to visit Kazakhstan, as well as Saudi Arabia and Oman, for talks on crude and naphtha supplies.
The discussions will extend beyond governments to include oil producers and shipping operators, suggesting that Seoul is not only seeking new suppliers but also workable delivery routes.
The urgency is clear. Around 61% of South Korea’s oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, where transit has become increasingly uncertain amid tensions involving Iran.
Earlier this year, Seoul secured a deal for 24 million barrels of crude from the United Arab Emirates, but officials are now focused on building more durable, long-term arrangements that reduce exposure to a single corridor.
Measures at home point to the same concern. Authorities have called on households and businesses to cut energy use, signalling that the government is preparing for tighter supply and possible price increases rather than treating the disruption as temporary.
The stakes extend beyond South Korea. The Strait of Hormuz has long carried roughly 20% of global oil trade, and new transit rules introduced by Iran, which classify countries as neutral, friendly or hostile, have added a further layer of unpredictability.
The possibility that certain states could face restrictions has accelerated the search for alternatives.
Japan is moving in a similar direction. The Japanese company INPEX has stakes in major Caspian projects, including the Kashagan oil field, producing about 430,000 barrels per day, and Azerbaijan’s ACG field, with output of around 350,000 barrels per day.
Oil from these fields is comparable in quality to Middle Eastern grades, making substitution technically feasible.
What complicates the picture is distance. Shipments routed via the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, bypassing the Cape of Good Hope, can take between 25 and 55 days, compared with about 20 days through the Strait of Hormuz.
The longer journey raises transport costs and introduces additional uncertainty into already strained supply chains.
Japan is also considering increasing imports from the U.S. and exploring supplies from South America.
In 2025, the U.S. accounted for 3.8% of Japan’s crude imports, making it its largest supplier outside the Middle East, though still far from replacing the region’s role.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned "a whole civilisation will die tonight," in a social media post on Tuesday, as his midnight deadline f...
U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance began a visit to Budapest on Tuesday by praising Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who faces a closely contested p...
Kanye West has been banned from entering the UK by the British government, following a backlash over his planned headline performance at London'...
Taiwan’s opposition leader Cheng Li-wun arrived in China for “peace” talks on Tuesday (7 April). He...
Recent U.S. complaints about NATO allies and threats to quit the alliance are pushing European countries to seek alte...
U.S. President Donald Trump warned "a whole civilisation will die tonight," in a social media post on Tuesday, as his midnight deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz approached. Meanwhile, reports in Iranian media said railways and power lines were hit in several provinces by the U.S.
U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance began a visit to Budapest on Tuesday by praising Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who faces a closely contested parliamentary election on Sunday.
Kanye West has been banned from entering the UK by the British government, following a backlash over his planned headline performance at London's Wireless Festival in July. It comes after the festival attacted criticism for booking the U.S. rapper, who had previously made antisemitic remarks.
Taiwan’s opposition leader Cheng Li-wun arrived in China for “peace” talks on Tuesday (7 April). Her visit to the country is the first by a leader of the Kuomintang (KMT), currently Taiwan’s largest opposition party, in more than a decade.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday told reporters that Iran could be taken out in one night, "and that night might be tomorrow night," warning Tehran it had to make a deal by Tuesday night or face wider bombing raids.
The crew of Artemis II mission are entering a pivotal phase of their journey, as they prepare to swing around the Moon and head back towards Earth. Now on the fifth day of their 10-day mission, the four astronauts are already witnessing views no human has ever seen.
A new proposal to end hostilities between the United States and Iran could come into effect as soon as Monday, potentially reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz, a source familiar with the plan said on Monday.
As Hungary approaches a crucial vote, younger citizens who grew up under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán are increasingly backing the opposition, with some saying they may leave if he secures another term.
Oil prices rose sharply on Monday as fears deepened over potential supply shortages caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, unsettling global energy markets and the row over the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns for consumers and businesses alike.
Trade between Georgia and Azerbaijan is on the rise, but business leaders say the current figures fall short of what the two neighbours could achieve together.
Afghanistan has moved to deepen health and trade cooperation with Uzbekistan, while also holding separate talks with Kyrgyz and Uzbek diplomats on regional ties, transit and future joint steps.
At least 10 people have died and several others were wounded after an Israeli airstrike on a neighbourhood outside a school sheltering displaced Palestinians on Monday (7 April), according to health officials.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday met U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack, Washington’s special envoy to Syria, diplomatic sources said. Earlier, Fidan spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi.
The official visit of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev to Georgia marks a significant moment in South Caucasus diplomacy, highlighting a deepening strategic partnership amid global uncertainty.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment