Japan faces shortage of plastic bags, trays and gloves as naphtha crisis deepens

Takeaways, supermarkets and bakeries across Japan are running short of plastic bags, trays and food-service gloves as shortages of naphtha widen amid the Middle East crisis. The food sector uses nearly one-third of Japan's more than 8m tonnes of annual plastic, and rising prices and scarcities are spreading through the industry.

Some shops now offer perks to customers who bring their own bags, plates or containers. Japan sources most of its crude oil from the Middle East, and naphtha extracted from that oil is used to make everything from printing ink to medical supplies. Data from the Japan Petrochemical Industry Association showed polyethylene production for shopping and garbage bags fell 62% in March compared with 2025, with large drops for other plastics.

Prime minister Sanae Takaichi's government says the problem is a supply 'bottleneck', but industry leaders warn conditions could worsen through June, and opinion polls show it ranks among the public's top worries. Retailers and food outlets have begun adjusting.

Japan

japan, naphtha, plastic bags, trays, gloves, polyethylene, supermarkets, bakeries, supply bottleneck, middle east