Japan is experiencing a severe shortage of plastic bags, trays, and food service gloves as the Middle East crisis disrupts naphtha supplies. Naphtha, a key ingredient derived from crude oil, is essential for producing plastics, printing ink, adhesives, and medical supplies. The Middle East is Japan's primary source of crude oil.
The food sector, which accounts for nearly one-third of Japan's annual plastic use of over 8 million tonnes, is particularly hard hit. Supermarkets, bakeries, and takeaways are running out of plastic packaging, leading some outlets to offer incentives for customers who bring their own bags or containers. Production of polyethylene used in shopping bags fell 62% in March compared to 2025, according to the Japan Petrochemical Industry Association.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government faces mounting pressure, though it describes the issue as a supply bottleneck rather than a shortage. Industry leaders and commentators disagree, warning the situation will worsen in June. Opinion polls show the public views the shortages as a pressing concern.
Retailers have been mandated to charge for plastic bags since 2020, but multiple layers of plastic packaging remain common in Japan's service culture. At a supermarket in Kawasaki, manager Takeshi Takanohira has stopped using individual plastic bags for produce due to rising costs and dwindling supplies. A nearby bakery has run out of bags for baguettes and faces shortages of plastic gloves for food handling.
Municipal rubbish collection systems, which rely on colour-coded plastic bags for waste separation, are also affected. Panic-buying has led stores to limit sales to two bags per customer, and some municipalities now allow non-approved bags. The crisis extends beyond Japan, with South Korea and Taiwan also reporting shortages and price surges.
