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Naphtha Shortages Having a Growing Impact in Japan

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Naphtha Shortages Having a Growing Impact in Japan
Economy
Lifestyle
May 15, 2026

The leading Japanese snack-food manufacturer Calbee has made headlines through its announced switch to black-and-white packaging for some of its products due to naphtha shortages, which are having a growing impact on a wide range of industries.

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A Clear Impact

(© Calbee)

The Iran war is leading to increased shortages of naphtha, a petroleum-derived raw material used in a wide range of products.
On May 12, major snack maker Calbee, known for its potato chips, announced that it would use black-and-white packaging for 14 of its most popular products.
The naphtha shortage has affected the supply of ink and solvents needed for printing on packaging. The firm stated, “Calbee will continue to respond flexibly and promptly to changes in its operating environment, including geopolitical risks, and remains committed to maintaining a stable supply of safe, high‑quality products.”
Photos of potato chips and the potato mascot that has been a popular character since its 1976 debut will also disappear from packaging for the time being. Calbee will gradually roll out monochrome packs for potato chips and granola from May 25.
A Wide Range of Industries Affected
Teikoku Databank has identified 52 Japanese companies using naphtha to make basic chemical products like ethylene, synthetic rubber, and PVC resin. These are then distributed to manufacturers via direct transactions, through trading companies or wholesalers, or through purchases of parts and components from first-tier manufacturers who process the basic chemicals.

A total of 46,741 Japanese manufacturers are involved in this distribution network, or around 30% of the 150,000 manufacturing companies included in the survey.
The chemicals, petroleum, and coal products manufacturing sector is most vulnerable to naphtha price rises and shortages; of the 4,700 companies in this sector, 67.2% are integrated into the naphtha supply chain.
Within the sector, 88.4% of companies producing cyclic intermediates—raw materials for plastics, synthetic fibers, dyes, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and agrochemicals—are integrated into the naphtha supply chain. The same is true for 87.3% of companies making gelatin and adhesives, including synthetic adhesives, and 84.0% of those manufacturing surfactants, which are widely used in automotive paints and household detergents.
In the pulp, paper, and paper products manufacturing sector, 80.1% of companies making coated paper, used for things like fast-food packaging and paper cups, are integrated into the supply chain. Even sectors that seem to be unrelated—such as food, livestock feed, and beverages—can be affected by problems such as difficulties with obtaining packaging.

While the government says that Japan has secured the quantities it needs, and there are no supply issues, Calbee is not the only company to take measures.
Mizkan suspended sales of four of its nattō products on May 1, citing potential problems procuring containers and packaging. In April, Nisshin Seifun Welna started using plain packaging tape for spaghetti, where previously the tape had the cooking time printed on it.
In the medical and nursing care sectors, there are growing shortages of products including syringes and rubber gloves. Price hikes and restrictions on sales are also affecting residential insulation and packaging film for food. If the conflict in the Middle East continues, the impact is likely to become more serious among all aspects of daily life.
Data Sources

Data on companies affected by naphtha shortages (Japanese) from Teikoku Databank
Information about changes to packaging (Japanese) from Calbee
Information about suspension of products (Japanese) from Mizkan
Information about changes to packaging (Japanese) from Nisshin Seifun Welna

(Translated from Japanese. Banner photo: Changes to packaging of flagship potato-chip products from Calbee, due to naphtha shortages. © Calbee.)

manufacturing
Iran

Naphtha shortages, exacerbated by the conflict in Iran, are creating tangible impacts across various Japanese industries and daily life. For instance, the major snack food manufacturer Calbee responded to the shortage of naphtha, a petroleum-derived raw material, by switching 14 of its popular products to black-and-white packaging due to constraints on ink and solvents. Calbee affirmed its commitment to maintaining a stable supply of high-quality products while adapting to the changing operating environment. Furthermore, Calbee planned a gradual rollout of monochrome packaging for potato chips and granola starting May 25th.

The impact extends deeply into the industrial supply chain. Teikoku Databank identified that 52 Japanese companies utilize naphtha to produce basic chemical products such as ethylene, synthetic rubber, and PVC resin. This distribution network involves approximately 46,741 Japanese manufacturers, representing about thirty percent of the 150,000 manufacturing companies surveyed. The chemical, petroleum, and coal products manufacturing sector is particularly vulnerable to naphtha price increases and shortages, with 67.2% of companies in this sector integrated into the naphtha supply chain.

The dependencies are widespread across downstream manufacturing sectors. Eighty-eight point four percent of companies producing cyclic intermediates, which serve as raw materials for plastics, synthetic fibers, dyes, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and agrochemicals, are integrated into the naphtha supply chain. Similarly, eighty-seven point three percent of firms manufacturing gelatin and adhesives, including synthetic adhesives, and eighty-four point zero percent of those producing surfactants used in automotive paints and household detergents, are also linked to this supply chain. In the pulp, paper, and paper products manufacturing sector, eighty point one percent of companies making coated paper, necessary for items like fast-food packaging and paper cups, are integrated into the chain. Problems with obtaining packaging materials are also affecting seemingly unrelated areas, including food, livestock feed, and beverages.

Beyond manufacturing, consumer-facing sectors are also experiencing shortages and price hikes. Organizations such as Mizkan suspended sales of four of its nattō products on May 1 due to difficulties in procuring necessary containers and packaging. Similarly, Nisshin Seifun Welna initiated the use of plain packaging tape for spaghetti, moving away from tapes previously marked with cooking times. In the medical and nursing care fields, there are growing deficits in essential items like syringes and rubber gloves, and restrictions on sales are impacting residential insulation and food packaging film. These challenges suggest that if the conflict in the Middle East persists, the strain on daily life across these aspects is likely to intensify.