Japan Crude Imports for Power Generation Decline in February

Japanese crude imports for power generation fell 30 percent in February as warmer weather curbed demand for electricity to heat buildings.

Japan, the world’s third-largest oil consumer, bought 1.17 million kiloliters of the fuel for producing electricity, equivalent to 262,000 barrels a day, data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed today. That’s down from 1.67 million kiloliters a year earlier. Total purchases slid 11 percent to 15.85 million kiloliters, the report also showed. Power plants accounted for 7.4 percent of imports.