South Korea is actively diversifying its oil supply chains and shifting toward alternative transport routes as instability in the Middle East threatens the security of energy imports that traditionally transit the Strait of Hormuz, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik announced on April 15.
During negotiations held during an April 8 visit to Kazakhstan, Seoul reached an agreement with Astana for the direct purchase of 18 million barrels of crude oil through the end of 2026. Kazakhstan ranks as the world's 12th-largest oil producer, according to Kazinform. Beyond crude, South Korea has also secured up to 2.1 million tons of naphtha through the same arrangement, representing a significant expansion of bilateral energy cooperation between the two nations.
"A new channel for direct high-level cooperation between the two countries has also been established as a result of these negotiations," Kang stated, underscoring the strategic importance of the partnership in the current geopolitical climate.
The energy agreements were negotiated amid reports by Reuters on April 7 that South Korea was exploring contingency supply options after disruptions to Strait of Hormuz traffic stemming from regional tensions. The Hormuz chokepoint handles roughly a fifth of global oil trade, making any interruption a material risk for import-dependent economies like South Korea.
According to Kang, the oil and naphtha purchased from Kazakhstan will be delivered via alternative routes entirely unconnected to the Strait of Hormuz, a measure expected to have a direct and significant impact on stabilizing South Korea's domestic energy market. The specific routing arrangements were not disclosed for security reasons.
South Korea's broader supply strategy extends beyond Kazakhstan. From Oman, Seoul plans to import approximately 5 million barrels of crude oil alongside up to 1.6 million tons of naphtha. Saudi Arabia, a longstanding energy partner, is expected to deliver up to 200 million barrels of oil and at least 500,000 tons of naphtha under the coordinated 2026 framework. Qatar was also cited as a participant in the multi-supplier arrangement.
The coordinated push reflects Seoul's determination to reduce dependence on a single transit corridor and build resilience into its energy import infrastructure against future geopolitical shocks in the Middle East.