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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova praised Georgia for resisting Western pressure (30 May), defending its national interests and pu...
More than 1,500 pages of government documents relating to Peter Mandelson's appointment and tenure as UK ambassador to the U.S. have been published, r...
As Armenia approaches parliamentary elections, Russia appears to be increasing political and economic pressure on Yerevan, signalling that closer inte...
Afghanistan’s consul general in Mashhad and the governor of Iran’s Khorasan Razavi province have discussed expanding trade, improving border trans...
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has withdrawn the appointment of a senior U.S. official to a top leadership role because of delays in U.S....
As Armenia approaches parliamentary elections, Russia appears to be increasing political and economic pressure on Yerevan, signalling that closer integration with the EU could lead to significant changes in labour, transport and energy arrangements between the two countries.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has withdrawn the appointment of a senior U.S. official to a top leadership role because of delays in U.S. payments, according to a statement published on Monday (1 June).
Turkish authorities have launched an investigation into a passenger bus crash in southwestern Türkiye that killed eight people and injured 33 others over the weekend.
Okinawa lost transport links and suffered widespread power outages on Monday (1 June) as Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought destructive winds and heavy rain to Japan's south-western islands.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
Okinawa lost transport links and suffered widespread power outages on Monday (1 June) as Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought destructive winds and heavy rain to Japan's south-western islands.
Donald Trump said he is “in no hurry” to reach a deal with Iran, insisting the U.S. is slowly getting what it wants. He warned military action remains an option if talks fail. Meanwhile, U.S. forces said they fired a missile at a vessel trying to breach Washington’s blockade of Iran.
The World Health Organisation’s designation of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is a stark reminder that Ebola remains a persistent global health threat rather than a disease of the past.
Thousands of residents blocked Austria’s Brenner motorway on Saturday (30 May), shutting down a major north-south transport route through the Alps in protest against persistent congestion from heavy truck traffic and tourism.
When Armenians vote on 7 June, they will be voting in an election shaped by months of political change and a rapidly deepening relationship with the European Union. The result may not only determine who governs Armenia but also the future direction of the country's geopolitical alignment.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway will resume operations on 2 June after extensive modernisation works. Officials from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye are set to gather in Akhalkalaki for a launch event marking the reopening of one of the Middle Corridor's most important transport links.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova praised Georgia for resisting Western pressure (30 May), defending its national interests and pursuing a "multi-vector foreign policy" - language that closely mirrors the rhetoric of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
As Armenia approaches parliamentary elections, Russia appears to be increasing political and economic pressure on Yerevan, signalling that closer integration with the EU could lead to significant changes in labour, transport and energy arrangements between the two countries.
Uzbekistan recorded further declines in the production of key energy resources during the first four months of 2026, even as output of fuel products, electricity and construction materials increased, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Committee.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment