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2026-05-28 19:19:16
[Japan's Naphtha Imports Plunge 47% in April, Middle Eastern Imports Drop 79%, Putting Pressure on Chemical Supply Chain] ⑴ Data released by Japan's Ministry of Finance on Thursday showed that Japan's imports of petroleum-derived naphtha in April fell 47% year-on-year to 1.14 million kiloliters. Imports from the Middle East plummeted 79.1%, recording only 341,700 kiloliters, and its share of total imports dropped sharply from about 70% to 30%. ⑵ Regional conflicts have severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil transport route. To compensate for the shortage, Japan's naphtha imports from other regions surged 52.4% year-on-year. ⑶ Naphtha is a key raw material for the chemical industry, widely used in products such as plastics, adhesives, and solvents in coatings and paints. Supply shortages are impacting resource-scarce industries in Japan. It has been reported that several food and beverage companies, including major brands, have been forced to simplify product packaging designs and raise prices due to the tightening supply of key raw materials such as naphtha.
