Iran war has brought unexpected consequences for food makers in Japan. shortage of product needed to manufacture ink has caused several companies to change design of their food wrapping. Major snack manufacturer Calbee is temporarily changing packaging for some of its most popular products to black and white. The company sells some of best-selling potato chips in Japan. spokesperson said some of its products will come with printed message that explains: "Packaged to save oil-related materials." Meanwhile, food and beverage maker Kagome will make some of wrapping for its popular ketchup transparent in bid to deal with the ink shortage.
Tensions in the Middle East are responsible for shortage of hydrocarbon liquid called naphtha. This is important component in production of plastics, solvents and printing ink. It is derived from crude oil. At the end of April, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi assured industry leaders that Japan had secured enough naphtha to last beyond this year. She said countermeasures would be taken to ensure supply of liquid. These include ramping up of domestic production, and threefold increase in naphtha imports from countries outside the Middle East. However, Calbee said: "Depending on how situation evolves, we anticipate possibility of additional impacts arising."
