Rising oil prices linked to Middle East tensions are driving up the cost of essential materials for Japanese tea production this spring.
These cost increases threaten the financial stability of tea farmers who rely on petroleum-based products to produce high-grade matcha and gyokuro. Because these specialty teas require specific shading and storage techniques, producers are vulnerable to fluctuations in the global energy market.
Masahiro Okutomi of Okutomi-en, a tea farm in Sayama, Saitama Prefecture, said that the price of vinyl netting used for shading tea plants is expected to rise by 20% to 30% [1]. These vinyl products are derived from petroleum, making their cost directly tied to crude oil volatility.
Beyond shading nets, farmers are facing higher expenses for fuel, and storage bags [1]. Okutomi said that he has already received price increase notifications from suppliers and expressed anxiety regarding the future of the industry.
However, the impact appears varied across different regions and operations. Katsue Akiyama, representative of Akiyama-en in Shizuoka Prefecture, said that operations are currently proceeding smoothly and are in very good shape [2]. This suggests that larger operations or those in different prefectures may have different cushioning against immediate price shocks.
Despite the stability reported by some, the reliance on plastic-based infrastructure remains a critical point of failure for the sector. The current spring season coincides with the peak period for new tea, meaning these cost spikes hit at the most resource-intensive time of the year [2].
“The price of vinyl netting used for shading tea plants is expected to rise by 20% to 30%.”
The vulnerability of Japan's specialty tea industry to Middle East geopolitical instability highlights a systemic reliance on petroleum-derived materials. While some large-scale producers in Shizuoka remain stable, smaller farms in regions like Saitama may face reduced profitability or be forced to raise consumer prices to offset the 20% to 30% surge in material costs.
