Ink Raw Material Supply Crisis: Calbee Potato Chip Packaging Goes Black and White
Due to a shortage of petrochemical raw materials caused by the Middle East conflict, Japanese snack giant Calbee will change the packaging of 14 key products, including potato chips, to a black and white design. This highlights supply chain vulnerabilities and growing environmental awareness.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 16:26
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 16:32 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 12, 2026 at 18:32 (1h 59m after Collected)
Middle East War Key News
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 12th, comprehensive foreign report) Due to the Middle East conflict, the petrochemical raw material naphtha (also known as light oil) is in short supply, leading to tight ink supplies. Japanese snack giant Calbee will change the packaging of its main products, such as potato chips, to a black and white color scheme.
Nikkei Asia reported that this change will affect 14 products and will apply to goods shipped from May 25th.
Calbee will limit the scope of adjustment to popular products with high sales to avoid broader impacts on its overall business.
Crude oil prices have soared since the joint attack by the United States and Israel on Iran. The shortage of naphtha, a crucial petrochemical raw material, has also led to tight supplies of solvents and resins, which are important raw materials for printing ink.
Calbee stated that "tensions in the Middle East" have led to unstable raw material supplies. Many other food manufacturers are also facing similar situations.
Hiroshi Urata, President of food company Itoham Yonekyu Holdings, stated at a financial results briefing on May 1st: "It will be difficult to maintain brightly colored packaging in the future."
He said: "Product packaging may become simpler, for example, adopting a black and white design."
A medium-sized beverage manufacturer also decided to stop partial packaging printing for 15 probiotic beverage products it manufactures on behalf of others, starting from the end of May. (Compiler: Liu Wen-yu) 1150512
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 12th, comprehensive foreign report) Due to the Middle East conflict, the petrochemical raw material naphtha (also known as light oil) is in short supply, leading to tight ink supplies. Japanese snack giant Calbee will change the packaging of its main products, such as potato chips, to a black and white color scheme.
Nikkei Asia reported that this change will affect 14 products and will apply to goods shipped from May 25th.
Calbee will limit the scope of adjustment to popular products with high sales to avoid broader impacts on its overall business.
Crude oil prices have soared since the joint attack by the United States and Israel on Iran. The shortage of naphtha, a crucial petrochemical raw material, has also led to tight supplies of solvents and resins, which are important raw materials for printing ink.
Calbee stated that "tensions in the Middle East" have led to unstable raw material supplies. Many other food manufacturers are also facing similar situations.
Hiroshi Urata, President of food company Itoham Yonekyu Holdings, stated at a financial results briefing on May 1st: "It will be difficult to maintain brightly colored packaging in the future."
He said: "Product packaging may become simpler, for example, adopting a black and white design."
A medium-sized beverage manufacturer also decided to stop partial packaging printing for 15 probiotic beverage products it manufactures on behalf of others, starting from the end of May. (Compiler: Liu Wen-yu) 1150512
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.