People from all walks of life in Japan are increasingly being affected by a short supply of naphtha-derived materials amid uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz. A shop located in Taito Ward, Tokyo, has been in business for over 80 years, primarily selling packaging materials related to the food and beverage industry. According to the shop owner, some items such as plastic wrap and plastic bags began to run out of stock around a month ago. The main reason is related to naphtha supply shortage in the country.
Naphtha is a critical raw material for the manufacturing and chemical industries. Its derivatives are widely used in the production of plastics, synthetic fibers, synthetic rubber, surfactants, and solvents for printing inks, among others.
In street interviews conducted by the China Central Television (CCTV), local residents in Tokyo have expressed deep concern over the naphtha supply shortage.
A restaurant operator said that due to the naphtha shortage, items such as rubber gloves and cleaning agents have become difficult to procure, leading to rising operating costs.
"[I] run a restaurant. Nowadays, the prices of various things have gone up, and the costs related to cleaning and washing have increased. Items like rubber gloves that I need for work have also been difficult to buy. I have had to visit quite a few stores because of this," said the restaurant operator.
In addition to the impact on the catering industry, the effects of the naphtha shortage have also extended into daily lives of ordinary people, affecting the supply of related household goods.
"The naphtha shortage is really troubling. What worries me most right now is the ongoing shortage of printing ink, which means the things I have ordered can't be delivered on time. This is just the kind of period we are in. Also, when recycling old newspapers in the past, someone would provide packaging bags. Now that's gone too. I have to tie them up with string myself and take them out for disposal. On top of that, my family has been complaining about rising prices of garbage bags. Everything is getting more expensive these days, so I have started buying less. I'm a bit hesitant to go shopping now," said a local resident.
"I'm really worried about what will happen in the future. It feels like more and more things are starting to become scarce. I heard from my dentist that they don't even have gloves anymore. After hearing that, I realized just how serious the situation has really become," said another local resident.
Japan's naphtha shortage worries people from all walks of life
