According to Jin10, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ryosei Akazawa, said on Tuesday that Japan plans not to release additional national oil reserves in September and October. He said Japan's crude oil purchases in September are expected to fall from 100% in August to about 80% of last year's monthly average because tankers that normally pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait are rerouting to the longer Suez route. He added that some of the strategic reserves already decided for release have not yet been used because progress has been made in securing alternative supplies, and using those reserves will ensure crude oil supply in September reaches last year's average monthly level. Japan is expected to restore crude oil purchases in October to last year's monthly average.