Japanese natto manufacturers are raising prices as the costs of raw soybeans and naphtha-derived packaging materials increase [1].
This price surge reflects the vulnerability of basic food staples to global energy fluctuations. Because natto relies on both agricultural commodities and petroleum-based plastics, it serves as a primary indicator of how geopolitical instability impacts Japanese consumer costs.
The price hikes are driven by a combination of factors. Rising crude oil prices have pushed up the cost of naphtha, a feedstock used to produce the plastic trays, and films that package the product [1]. Simultaneously, soybean prices have risen, linked to higher plant-oil prices [1].
Industry stakeholders report that the combined effect of these costs has reached a point where manufacturers can no longer absorb the expenses internally [1]. The volatility is tied to broader energy disruptions. A representative from Kuraray said on May 6 [2] that naphtha prices are rising and affecting downstream products.
Reports indicate that the spike in naphtha prices follows a virtual blockade of the Strait of Hormuz [3]. This disruption has caused a ripple effect across petrochemical products, leading to consecutive price increases for materials used in food preservation, and transport [3].
"Natto can be said to be one of the products most easily affected by high crude oil prices," Momona Sunagawa said [1].
Government officials have addressed the supply chain issues. Prime Minister Takaichi said that naphtha-based petrochemical products are expected to be supplied through the beginning of the year [1].
“"Natto can be said to be one of the products most easily affected by high crude oil prices,"”
The rising cost of natto illustrates the 'double squeeze' on Japanese food security, where the country is simultaneously exposed to global agricultural price swings and energy shocks. The link between the Strait of Hormuz blockade and the price of a breakfast staple highlights Japan's heavy reliance on imported naphtha for food packaging, suggesting that energy volatility will continue to drive food inflation regardless of crop yields.
