Japanese food manufacturers are struggling to maintain packaging colors and printing as a naphtha shortage disrupts the supply of pigments and thinners.

This crisis threatens the visual identity of consumer goods and the ability to print essential product information on packaging. Because packaging is critical for marketing new products, the inability to maintain brand standards could lead to significant revenue losses for food producers.

Starting in April 2026, printing sites across Japan began reporting a loss of color and an inability to print on packaging [1, 2, 3]. The shortage specifically affects the pigments and thinners required for food-grade wrapping, impacting common items such as potato chips and ketchup [1, 2].

The supply chain failure is attributed to deteriorating conditions in the Middle East and the war in Iran, which have reduced the global supply of naphtha [4, 5]. This geopolitical instability has driven up raw material prices and created a scarcity of the chemicals necessary for industrial printing [4, 5].

Prime Minister Takaichi said the government must resolve these supply "bottlenecks" to restore normal operations [1]. However, a contradiction exists between government reports and industry reality. The government has said that the total volume of naphtha required for the country has been secured [6]. Conversely, the packaging industry said that the shortage remains severe enough to prevent printing on containers [2].

Industry warnings suggest the situation could worsen. If the naphtha shortage continues to intensify, there is a risk that supplies could stop entirely by June 2026 [7].

“Japanese food manufacturers are struggling to maintain packaging colors and printing.”

The disconnect between the Japanese government's macro-level supply claims and the micro-level failures in the packaging sector suggests a distribution or refining bottleneck rather than a total lack of raw material. If the supply of printing chemicals is not restored by June, the food industry may face a forced shift toward unbranded or minimally labeled packaging, which would disrupt consumer trust and regulatory compliance regarding ingredient labeling.