Japanese snacks go black-and-white: Why Iran war is driving up ink prices
Japanese snack giant Calbee is temporarily switching 14 of its products to black-and-white packaging due to a shortage of printing ink. This scarcity is a direct consequence of the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has disrupted global supply chains.
The story so far
- May 12
- May 14
How outlets cover it
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Open questions and key claims
The packaging change is a response to supply instability affecting raw materials amid Middle East tensions.
Calbee will temporarily revise packaging specifications for certain products due to supply instability.
A government spokesperson assured that domestic naphtha refining continues, imports from outside the Middle East have tripled, and adequate supplies have been secured.
Calbee's shares dipped more than 1% on the news.
Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz waterway in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes.
The Japanese government has not received reports of immediate supply disruption for printing ink or naphtha.
Japan imports 40% of its naphtha, needed for printing ink, from the Middle East, which has been impacted by the conflict.
The US-Israeli war on Iran has led to a shortage of ink supplies affecting Japanese snack packaging.
Who and where
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