Eneos Secures Rare Canadian Crude Cargo to Diversify Imports

The cargo, sold by Exxon, was loaded onto an Aframax tanker as part of a broader trend of Asian refiners tapping into expanded Canadian export capacity. Richard Ro, a senior analyst at Kpler, noted that these purchases underscore Canada’s rising influence in Asian energy markets, providing a vital alternative to traditional Gulf producers. Previously, Japan sourced over 90% of its crude from the Middle East, but recent geopolitical instability has forced a rapid search for secondary suppliers, including the United States and Russia.

Canada’s ability to serve these markets stems from the Trans Mountain pipeline, which currently operates with a capacity of 890,000 barrels daily. The infrastructure has become a cornerstone of Pacific trade, with nearly 77% of all oil exports from Vancouver now flowing to Asia, up significantly from 51% in 2024. With demand from nations like India, Malaysia, and Singapore remaining high, Trans Mountain Corp. is already exploring plans to expand daily throughput to 1.2 million barrels.