Top 5 countries reliant on the Strait of Hormuz for oil imports

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most critical arteries of the global energy system. Nearly 20 percent of global oil consumption and about a quarter of the world’s seaborne liquefied natural gas (LNG) pass through the narrow waterway each day.

In 2025, roughly 15 million barrels per day (mb/d) of crude oil, about 34 percent of global crude trade, moved through the strait, with the overwhelming majority heading to Asian markets.

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According to data from the Visual Capitalist, below are the five countries most reliant on oil imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz, based on their share of shipments.

1. China — 37.7 percent

China is by far the largest importer of crude shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, accounting for more than a third of the oil flows.

The world’s second-largest economy relies heavily on Gulf suppliers such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran to fuel its vast
Given China’s central role in global supply chains, any supply shock affecting its energy imports would reverberate through international manufacturing and trade.

2. India — 14.7 percent

India ranks as the second-largest importer dependent on Hormuz, receiving nearly 15 percent of the crude passing through the strait.
With limited domestic oil production, India relies heavily on Middle Eastern crude to power its fast-growing economy. Suppliers including Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE form the backbone of India’s energy imports.

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3. South Korea — 12.0 percent

South Korea is among the most energy-import dependent economies in the world, and nearly 12 percent of the oil passing through Hormuz is destined for Korean refiners.

As a major industrial exporter with limited natural resources, the country depends heavily on stable energy supplies from the Gulf. Oil shipments from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE form a critical component of South Korea’s energy mix.

4. Japan — 10.9 percent

Japan receives nearly 11 percent of Hormuz oil shipments, making it another highly exposed energy importer.

The country imports almost all of its crude oil, with the majority sourced from Gulf producers. Following the reduction of nuclear power capacity after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan’s reliance on imported fossil fuels, including Gulf crude and LNG, increased significantly.

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5. European Union — 3.8 percent

Although Europe is less dependent than Asian economies, it still receives about 3.8 percent of oil shipments passing through the strait.

European reliance on the Gulf has grown in recent years as energy markets shifted and countries sought to diversify supply sources. In addition to crude oil, several European states increasingly import liquefied natural gas from Qatar, much of which also transits the strait.