Japanese PM Fumio Kishida addressed concerns over naphtha supply disruptions due to Middle East tensions in a parliamentary committee, assuring the public that overall supply is sufficient despite localized issues like hoarding and reluctance to sell. Opposition leader Junya Ogawa urged for emergency measures to stabilize prices and availability.
Japan is experiencing shortages of plastic products like bags and packaging due to disrupted naphtha supplies caused by the war in Iran. This has led to production cuts, increased costs, and a shift towards monochrome packaging by major retailers.
Japan's food sector is experiencing severe shortages of plastic bags, trays, and gloves due to dwindling naphtha supplies from the Middle East. This has led to price hikes, customer incentives for reusable items, and government pressure.
日本因石腦油供應減少導致乙烯短缺，面臨近50年來最嚴重的香蕉供應壓力。此短缺影響香蕉催熟，並已擴及其他產業，如零食包裝。進口商正尋找替代乙烯來源以維持供應。
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that the supply of naphtha-derived chemical products will be possible beyond the current fiscal year, with domestic refining and alternative sourcing accelerating. Supply has recovered to 85% of previous levels, and toluene will see 1.8 times the usual supply to resolve bottlenecks in paint and thinner distribution.
Japan's banana supply is threatened by a shortage of ethylene gas, a key ripening agent derived from naphtha. The country imports most of its oil, and disruptions to petroleum supplies have led to critically low naphtha inventories, impacting banana ripening and potentially causing price hikes and shortages for this staple fruit.
Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi is working to alleviate concerns over the supply of naphtha and other oil-related products, fearing public unrest and criticism if shortages occur. Despite government assurances of continued supply, some companies are changing product packaging due to naphtha-derived ink procurement issues, raising doubts about the official narrative.
Japan's Agriculture Minister Tetsukazu Suzuki will hold talks with food industry groups on May 27 to discuss the impact of a naphtha shortage due to the Middle East situation. The government will share supply outlooks and gather information on material procurement, assuring that overall supply is expected to continue beyond the year-end.
Japanese companies are preparing for potential naphtha supply disruptions due to Middle East instability, but the government insists overall supply is sufficient, creating a gap in perception and response.
Rising naphtha prices, driven by Middle East tensions, are impacting Japan's economy. While the government claims sufficient supply, manufacturers and retailers report shortages, with naphtha costs doubling.
One of Japan’s best-loved snack brands is switching to monochrome packaging for a number of its products due to a shortage of naphtha – a crude-oil derivative used in petrochemicals and printing inks – caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Calbee said it would “temporarily revise packaging specifications for certain products in response to supply instability affecting certain raw materials amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East”. The decision by the...
SEOUL, May 7 (Yonhap) -- Creditors of Yeochun NCC, a major producer of ethylene ...
The U.S. has become South Korea's largest naphtha supplier, accounting for 24.7% of imports, following the outbreak of the Iran conflict in late February. Previously ranked seventh, the U.S. overtook the UAE, Algeria, Qatar, and Kuwait as Seoul diversified its supply sources amid the geopolitical crisis.
South Korea expects to secure up to 90 percent of pre-Iran war naphtha supplies for May, with major petrochemical companies expanding plant operations. The government is injecting 674.4 billion won to cover half the price difference between pre-war and current import prices. The country has secured 2.1 million tons of naphtha from Middle Eastern nations including Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Global condom giant Karex Bhd is hiking prices by up to 30% due to Iran war-induced supply chain disruptions and soaring raw material costs. Naphtha shortages are crippling production, leading to a worldwide shortage of essential goods, from condoms to plastic packaging, impacting public health initiatives, especially in developing nations.
Geopolitical conflict in the Middle East has disrupted Asia's semiconductor industry by cutting supplies of naphtha, a key feedstock for photoresist used in chip manufacturing. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since early March, curtailing naphtha supplies essential for specialty chemicals. South Korea's Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are among the most exposed, with Japanese photoresist suppliers warning of looming raw material disruptions. Advanced chip nodes using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography are expected to be hit hardest.
RT analysis warns of multiple hidden economic crises stemming from the Iran war beyond oil price surges. Key commodities including naphtha, diesel, aluminum, helium, and sulfur are experiencing severe supply disruptions that could trigger cascading effects across global supply chains. Analysts warn of potential shortages in plastics, diesel, jet fuel, and high-tech materials, with price spikes already manifesting across multiple sectors.
