Middle East Affects Raw Material Supply, TOTO Halts New System Bathroom Orders

Middle East Key News

(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 13th, comprehensive foreign report) Japanese bathroom manufacturer TOTO has informed wholesalers that it will stop accepting new orders for system bathrooms starting today. The reason is a shortage of organic solvent supply, and the supply of naphtha, the raw material for organic solvents, is affected by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

"Nikkei Shimbun" reported that TOTO has not yet decided when to resume accepting orders. The adhesive used to bond system bathroom walls and floors, and the coating material used to polish bathtubs made of artificial marble, all contain organic solvents. Organic solvents are processed from naphtha, which is made from petroleum.

TOTO stated that there are currently no problems with the manufacturing of its main products, such as toilets and other sanitary ware.

TOTO also said, "The outlook for raw material procurement is currently uncertain, and we will evaluate subsequent countermeasures."

The aforementioned impact has also spread to other bathroom industry peers. LIXIL, a brand that also produces system bathrooms, announced that it "far exceeds the scope of self-help efforts" and "due to the shortage of raw materials, production, shipments, or orders may be adjusted or restricted."

Other Japanese bathroom manufacturers such as Cleanup, and system kitchen cabinet manufacturer Takara Standard, have also issued similar statements. (Compiler: Yang Wei-ching) 1150413