Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry held an information exchange meeting with approximately 10 food industry groups [1].
The meeting comes as instability in the Middle East threatens the supply and price of naphtha, a primary raw material used to produce plastics for food packaging. Because these materials are essential for food safety and logistics, any disruption in the supply chain could lead to higher consumer prices or product shortages.
During the session, officials discussed the current procurement status of naphtha-derived materials and shared concerns regarding rising costs. The government is seeking to coordinate a response to ensure that food packaging remains available despite geopolitical volatility. Agriculture Minister Norikazu Suzuki said that participants should use the meeting as a place to collect and provide information on the supply and demand of food containers and packaging [3].
Industry data highlights the severity of the situation, as 70% of companies surveyed regarding naphtha supply instability reported price increases [4]. This financial pressure has prompted some companies to explore changing their packaging designs to reduce the overall amount of naphtha used [1].
There are conflicting views on the current state of the market. While government officials at TBS NEWS DIG said that naphtha products are currently being supplied [1], other reports suggest a more precarious situation. Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa said that companies should not restrict shipments [5].
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also addressed the issue during a meeting on April 30, 2026 [6]. She said that there are indications of bottlenecks in the naphtha supply and that rapid countermeasures are required [7].
“70% of companies surveyed regarding naphtha supply instability reported price increases.”
The coordination between two major ministries and a broad array of industry groups signals that the Japanese government views the naphtha supply chain as a critical vulnerability. By focusing on both procurement stability and the reduction of raw material usage, Japan is attempting to decouple its food security from Middle Eastern geopolitical volatility, though the tension between official claims of stability and industry reports of price hikes suggests a fragile market.
