Japan sees shortage of plastic bags, trays and gloves, as Iran war-induced naphtha shortage worsens Japan is experiencing a shortage of plastic bags, trays, and gloves due to a scarcity of naphtha, a key plastic ingredient primarily sourced from the Middle East. This shortage is affecting various sectors, including food retailers and waste management, with price increases and supply chain disruptions anticipated to worsen. Other East Asian countries are also facing similar issues.

• Japan is facing shortages of plastic bags, trays, and food service gloves due to a lack of naphtha, caused by the Middle East crisis.
• The food sector, a major consumer of plastic, is heavily impacted, leading some businesses to incentivize customers bringing their own containers.
• Naphtha, derived from crude oil from the Middle East, is crucial for producing various items including plastics, and its production is significantly down in Japan.
• The Japanese government is facing pressure over the shortages, while industry experts predict the situation will worsen.
• Retailers are mandated to charge for plastic bags, but excessive plastic packaging remains common, now under pressure due to low supplies.
• Businesses like supermarkets and bakeries are struggling to obtain plastic trays and bags, with some offering rewards for customers using their own containers.
• Municipal rubbish collection systems are affected, and panic buying has led to restrictions on plastic garbage bag sales.
• Similar shortages are reported in other East Asian countries, including South Korea and Taiwan, which also rely on Middle East oil for naphtha.