Japan's snack maker Calbee will temporarily revise packaging for some products to use just two ink colours because of an ink shortage tied to supply pressure linked to the Middle East conflict. [1, 2]
The change affects about 14 products, including potato chips, shrimp crackers and fruit granola cereal. Calbee said the new look will appear only on a limited number of items and will not affect product quality, adding: "The change applies only to a limited number of products and will not affect product quality." [1]
The shortage stems from naphtha, an oil-derived chemical used in printing ink, with sources saying prices have surged amid the Iran conflict. Japan imports about 40% of its naphtha from the Middle East, and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato said on Tuesday there were no immediate problems with the country's naphtha supply. [1, 2]
Calbee, which holds roughly half of Japan's snack market, said the revised packaging is scheduled to start appearing in stores from May 25. Other Japanese companies, including Toto, have also faced supply disruptions or related pressure from naphtha-based materials. [1, 2]
