Saudi-Japan hydrogen cargo may herald major trade route
Saudi Arabia has big plans for hydrogen, and its recent shipment of blue ammonia to Japan looks like a sign of things to come
As hydrogen gains traction around the world, it is beginning to reshape strategic relations in the oil industry. In late September, the first shipment of blue ammonia set sale from Saudi Arabia headed for Japan, a country reliant on imports for more than 90pc of its primary energy supply. The cargo is part of a supply network demonstration project between Saudi Aramco and the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ) in partnership with Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corp. While the volume is small, at 40t, it is a significant step and is seen by many as heralding a major shift towards the growth of the circular carbon economy. Groundwork complete The project is the culmination of plans la
Also in this section
4 March 2026
Turmoil in Middle East reminds nascent clean hydrogen sector that its future prospects are dependent on global energy markets and geopolitics
25 February 2026
Low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia development is advancing much more slowly and unevenly than once expected, with high costs and policy uncertainty thinning investment. Meanwhile, surging energy demand is reinforcing the role of natural gas and LNG as the backbone of the global energy system, panellists at LNG2026 said
18 February 2026
Norwegian energy company has dropped a major hydrogen project and paused its CCS expansion plans as demand fails to materialise
4 February 2026
Europe’s largest electrolyser manufacturers are losing patience with policymakers as sluggish growth in the green hydrogen sector undermines their decision to expand production capacity






