Korea secures 273 millions barrels of crude oil: Presidential aide

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Korea secures 273 millions barrels of crude oil: Presidential aide

Published: 15 Apr. 2026, 17:41 Updated: 15 Apr. 2026, 18:34

U.S. and Iranian flags are seen behind oil barrels in this illustration created on March 23. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Korea has secured 273 million barrels of crude oil by the end of this year from four Middle Eastern nations, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said on Wednesday.

Kang, who returned home from his eight-day trip to Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kazakhstan, said the nation also secured 2.1 million tons of naphtha by the end of this year.

Naphtha is a petroleum-based raw material used to make plastics and other goods.

“The 273 million barrels of crude oil, based on last year's consumption levels, are sufficient to sustain the economy for more than three months under normal operating conditions without the need for additional emergency measures,” Kang told reporters.

Yonhap