Japan sees shortage of plastic bags, trays and gloves, as Iran war-induced naphtha shortage worsens
Summary
Japan is facing shortages of plastic bags, trays, and gloves because of a supply problem with naphtha, a key ingredient used to make many plastics. This shortage is linked to the war in the Middle East disrupting Japan’s main source of crude oil, which is used to produce naphtha.Key Facts
- Plastic bags, trays, and gloves are running low in Japanese supermarkets, bakeries, and other food businesses.
- Naphtha is a chemical made from crude oil and is used to produce many plastic items.
- Japan gets most of its crude oil from the Middle East, where a war is causing supply disruptions.
- Production of polyethylene, a plastic used in bags, dropped by 62% in March compared to the previous year.
- The Japanese government says the problem is a temporary supply "bottleneck," but industry experts expect the shortage to worsen in June.
- Some stores are encouraging customers to bring their own containers and are offering rewards for doing so.
- Waste management systems that require specific plastic bags are also affected, leading some cities to allow different bags or limit sales.
- Other East Asian countries, like South Korea, are experiencing similar shortages and have put purchase limits on plastic bags.
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