Download App

[Iran War Impacts Japanese Snack Industry: Calbee Potato Chip Packaging to Change to Black and White] 1. Due to the Iran war, Japanese supermarket shelves may lose their usual color. Snack maker Calbee announced on Tuesday that due to chemical shortages, it plans to change some of its best-selling potato chips to black and white packaging. 2. The new monochrome packaging will be available in Japan on May 25. Calbee attributes the reason to difficulties in sourcing raw materials such as naphtha—a petrochemical product used in the manufacture of paints and printing inks. 3. The iconic orange and blue color scheme of lightly salted potato chips, the yellow and green color scheme of seaweed-flavored chips, and the packaging of French consommé-flavored chips will all be affected. Consumers will soon see a completely different look. 4. The Japanese government expressed its bewilderment. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that Japan has secured sufficient naphtha and similar petroleum derivatives to last until next year. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato also stated at a press conference that the government has not received any reports of immediate problems with the supply of printing inks or naphtha. 5. Concerns about naphtha stem from Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz at the end of February in retaliation for attacks by the US and Israel. Japan typically relies on imports from the Middle East for about 40% of its naphtha, with the remaining 40% produced domestically. The government has stated that it has increased imports from the US, Peru, and Algeria, and boosted domestic production. 6. Businesses remain worried. A survey by Seidanren, representing consumer goods companies and consumer organizations, showed that among more than 100 companies surveyed, 44% have already felt the impact of naphtha shortages, and three-quarters of the companies indicated that if the supply problems persist, they expect production to be impacted within three months.