South Korea to import Kazakh oil via routes bypassing Strait of Hormuz

South Korea will import 18 million barrels of Kazakh oil via routes bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, as it seeks to shield its energy supply from mounting instability in the Middle East.

South Korea has agreed to purchase 18 million barrels of crude oil from Kazakhstan using alternative transport routes, in a calculated effort to reduce exposure to geopolitical disruption in the Middle East.

The arrangement was confirmed by Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to the South Korean president, following high-level talks in Kazakhstan on 8 April. It forms part of a broader push by Seoul to diversify both suppliers and logistics chains.

The deal sits within a wider procurement framework under which South Korea has secured contracts for 273 million barrels of oil through to the end of 2026.

Supplier mix remains stable

Alongside Kazakhstan, the agreements cover supplies from Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Within this structure, Kazakhstan’s share remains relatively modest at around 6%, suggesting that while its role is expanding, it is not yet central to South Korea’s import mix.

Saudi Arabia is set to continue as South Korea’s principal partner under long-term contracts, accounting for up to 200 million barrels of crude and at least 500,000 tonnes of naphtha.

Oman is expected to provide around 5 million barrels of oil and up to 1.6 million tonnes of naphtha, reinforcing the Gulf’s central role in Seoul’s energy portfolio.

Broader cooperation with Kazakhstan

Talks in Kazakhstan also resulted in an agreement on the supply of up to 2.1 million tonnes of naphtha and the establishment of a new direct channel for high-level bilateral engagement, indicating an intention to institutionalise cooperation beyond individual contracts.

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For Kazakhstan, ranked 12th globally in oil production, the agreement aligns with its broader ambition to widen export routes and strengthen its position in Asian markets.

Strategic shipping routes

A defining feature of the arrangement is its logistical dimension. Both crude and naphtha will be transported via routes that avoid the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint long exposed to disruption amid regional tensions.

South Korean officials expect this shift to alternative corridors to have a tangible stabilising effect on the domestic energy market, even if transit times - estimated at 50 to 60 days - remain broadly comparable to shipments from more distant suppliers such as the U.S.

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News Kazakhstan South Korea Oil Strait of Hormuz Middle east crisis