Middle East Impact on Raw Material Supply: TOTO Halts System Bathroom Orders
Japanese bathroom manufacturer TOTO has halted new orders for system bathrooms starting April 13, 2026, due to a shortage of organic solvents. The shortage is attributed to disruptions in naphtha supply, a raw material for organic solvents, caused by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Other manufacturers like LIXIL, Cleanup, and Takara standard are also affected, potentially leading to production and shipment adjustments. TOTO's sanitary ware production (e.g., toilets) remains unaffected.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 18:48
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 19:01 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 13, 2026 at 21:14 (2h 12m after Collected)
Japanese bathroom manufacturer TOTO announced on April 13, 2026, that it has stopped accepting new orders for system bathrooms. This decision is due to an insufficient supply of organic solvents, which are critical for manufacturing system bathrooms. The organic solvents are derived from naphtha, a petroleum-based raw material. The supply of naphtha has been disrupted by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. TOTO has not specified a date for resuming order acceptance. Organic solvents are used in adhesives for walls and floors of system bathrooms and in coating materials for artificial marble bathtubs. TOTO confirmed that the production of its main sanitary ware products, such as toilets, is not currently experiencing issues. The company is evaluating future countermeasures given the uncertain outlook for raw material procurement. Other Japanese bathroom manufacturers, including LIXIL, Cleanup, and system cabinet manufacturer Takara standard, have also reported similar impacts, with LIXIL indicating potential adjustments or limitations to production, shipments, or order acceptance due to raw material shortages.