Japanese snack producer, Calbee, is switching to black and white printed packaging, as supplies of critical materials for coloured ink have been disrupted by the ongoing Iran war
Mass-market Japanese snack manufacturer, Calbee, has announced that it will switch to black and white printed packaging for some of its best-selling products, as supplies of naphtha for its ink have been disrupted by the ongoing Iran war.
Naphtha is a crude oil derivative and petroleum-based byproduct of the oil refining process. In the commercial printing industry, it is critically required as a solvent and raw material to manufacture the resins and pigments used in coloured printing inks.
In print, naphtha is primarily used in flexographic and rotogravure printing. In flexo applications, it is the dominant method used for printing on flexible food packaging, plastic film wrap, carrier bags, and corrugated cardboard boxes.
The price of naphtha in Asia has reportedly almost doubled since the start of the conflict, as around 40% of Japan's naphtha was imported from the Middle East before the war began.
Monochrome packets for 14 of Calbee’s products including crisps, granola, and prawn crackers, will start to appear in shops in Japan from May 25th.
In an official statement, Calbee says it will “temporarily revise packaging specifications for certain products, in response to supply instability affecting certain raw materials amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.”
The statement continues: “Calbee will continue to respond flexibly and promptly to changes in its operating environment, including geopolitical risks, and remains committed to maintaining a stable supply of safe, high‑quality products. We ask for your understanding and continued support.”
Companies worldwide have reported major supply disruptions to commodities including fuel, helium, and plastics caused by the ongoing conflict in Iran, which are exacerbating price rises across a majority of key global industries.
The 2026 Iran War broke out abruptly in the early hours of February 28th 2026, ignited by an unannounced joint military offensive launched by the United States and Israel under the code name ‘Operation Epic Fury’.
Iran and its regional allies retaliated heavily by launching hundreds of drone and missile counter-strikes aimed at Israeli cities, US military bases, and neighbouring Arab states that house Western forces.
Crucially for global commerce and the printing supply chain, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also retaliated by establishing a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
By mining the waters and threatening to fire upon foreign vessels, Iran has effectively choked off a waterway responsible for 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, directly triggering the critical shortage of materials including naphtha.
Oil and gas prices have surged since the conflict started. While an exact ship count has not been calculated, maritime data suggests that tanker transits through the Strait of Hormuz have collapsed by 92% to 97% since the outbreak of the conflict.
Diplomatic talks about ending the conflict have stalled multiple times, with no clear consensus in sight, leaving the industry with no timeline for supply normalisation and protracted international negotiations that have yet to yield a concrete resolution for global logistics.
