Highlights Japanese refiners’ imports will slow to a trickle next month Shipping companies prepare for snap-back of sanctions in November Washington officials send mixed signals on sanctions relief Tokyo — Japanese refiners will likely halt loading cargoes of Iranian oil in August, resulting in minimal imports next month as Washington sends mixed signals about whether any of Tehran’s oil customers will be able to continue importing after US sanctions snap back in November. Receive daily email alerts, subscriber notes & personalize your experience. Register Now A number of regular Japanese importers of Iranian oil do not have immediate plans to load any barrels from Iran in August, sources with direct knowledge of the matter told S&P Global Platts. The absence of planned loadings in August would result in Japan importing as little as a few Iranian crude cargoes, which were loaded in July, according to sources. Two VLCCs carrying […]