The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid rising Middle East tensions has exposed the vulnerability of Japan's import-dependent economy, with about 80 percent of naphtha sourced from the region.

How this affects you

Procurement difficulties are causing production cuts and price hikes for plastic-related goods in Japan, forcing the government to secure alternative suppliers and potentially impacting household budgets and society at large due to Japan's reliance on petroleum-based products. This scenario highlights the need for Japan to reconsider its reliance on single-use plastics and fossil fuels.