Japanese refiners switch to small tankers to expedite U.S. oil transport via the Panama Canal

```htmlGolden Ten Data reported on April 8 that, due to supply disruptions caused by the war in Iran, some Japanese refiners are seeking to accelerate the delivery of US crude oil, opting for smaller tankers capable of passing through the Panama Canal instead of circumventing Africa. According to vessel tracking data, three medium-sized tankers are scheduled to transport US oil to Japan from late April to May, with two having already entered the Pacific via the Panama Canal. The third vessel, Aframax Seaways Yosemite, is approaching the canal from the Caribbean. US oil is usually shipped to Japan via super-large tankers, which can carry 2 million barrels of crude, but their size prevents them from passing through the Panama Canal, forcing them to travel around the southern tip of Africa to reach Asia. Vessel tracking shows that at least four super-large tankers are currently en route from the US to Japan along this route. The use of smaller tankers indicates a sense of urgency among some Japanese refiners to secure supply. Although these ships can reach Japan more quickly (about 30 days through the Panama Canal compared to roughly 50 days via Africa), they can only carry a fraction of the volume handled by super-large tankers.```