Calbee Slashes Snack Packaging Colors Due to Raw Material Shortages

Tokyo. Due to disruptions in the supply of raw materials caused by the Iran war, Japan's famous snack manufacturing company Calbee will cut colors in the packaging of its main products. 

Due to the shortage of raw materials used to make ink, the company will temporarily send some products to the market in 'black and white' packets.

According to the company, from May 25, 14 different products including chips and prawn crackers will be seen in the new style of packaging in Japanese stores. This is the latest major impact on the production of daily necessities after Iran retaliated against the US and Israeli attacks by closing the Strait of Hormuz waterway. 

Calbee said in a statement that this decision was taken to address the instability in the supply of raw materials due to increasing tension in West Asia. 'This measure has been adopted to maintain a stable supply of production,' the company said.

The conflict, which began on February 28, has caused oil and gas prices to skyrocket. In particular, there has been a serious crisis in the supply of 'naphtha', which is produced during oil refining and used to make ink and plastic. The price of naphtha in Asia has nearly doubled since the war began, significantly increasing the costs for businesses in the region. 

Japan's Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato told reporters on Tuesday that before the war, Japan used to import about 40 percent of its naphtha from the Middle East. He said the government is working to remove the imbalances and disruptions in supply.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had said in April that efforts were being made to increase the supply of naphtha from other sources like the US, outside the Middle East. Asian countries, which are heavily dependent on energy and oil products from the Middle East, have been the most affected by disruptions in shipping from the Gulf region.