Japan is experiencing a nationwide shortage of paint-thinner as disrupted naphtha supplies from the Middle East drive up prices and limit availability.
The scarcity threatens construction firms and paint shops while impacting daily household needs. Because naphtha serves as the primary feedstock for thinner production, the shortage creates a ripple effect across the industrial and consumer sectors.
Ongoing tensions in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran, have disrupted crude oil shipments. This instability has pushed naphtha prices higher and restricted the volume of available raw materials. In one instance, Saudi Arabian crude oil shipped on the tanker ‘Idemitsu Maru’ amounted to 2 million barrels [1], a volume representing only 0.6 day of Japan’s domestic oil consumption [2].
The economic impact has been immediate. Paint-thinner prices have risen by about 100 percent [4]. Kenri Kato of the Japan Paint Industry Association said a serious shortage of paint and thinner used for coating is occurring.
Government officials have intervened to stabilize the market. On May 14, Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa said the government requested manufacturers not to reduce production as the procurement of petroleum-related paint-thinner has become difficult.
Regional reports highlight the severity of the crisis. An anonymous operator in Kumamoto Prefecture said the shortage of naphtha-derived thinner is hindering painting work. In Nagoya City, the shortage has affected the production of designated waste bags. Consequently, Nagoya City began allowing the use of non-designated transparent bags for waste collection on May 25 [5].
Other unrelated disruptions have also been reported in the region, including the theft of approximately 600 agricultural containers [3].
“Paint-thinner prices have risen by about 100 percent.”
This situation demonstrates the fragility of Japan's industrial supply chain and its heavy reliance on Middle Eastern crude oil. The fact that a shortage of a chemical solvent can trigger a change in municipal waste-bag regulations illustrates how deeply volatile energy markets can disrupt basic public services and local governance.
