13 May 2026 Iran war takes colour out of Japanese chips packaging

Calbee turns to black‑and‑white packs as Iran war squeezes global ink supplies….

Japan’s biggest snack maker, Calbee, has taken an unusual but telling step in response to the deepening supply‑chain fallout from the US–Israeli war on Iran: it is stripping the colour from 14 of its bestselling products and shifting to black‑and‑white packaging to conserve ink inputs.

From 25 May, consumers in Japan will see – ironically eye-catching – monotone versions of household staples such as Calbee Potato Chips, Kappa Ebisen, and Frugra cereal on shelf.

The move is temporary, but it has made national headlines, underscoring how even highly industrialised markets are feeling the ripple effects of the conflict.

The pressure point is naphtha — an oil‑derived ingredient essential for printing ink. Japan imports roughly 40% of its naphtha from the Middle East, and the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted around 20% of global oil supply since late February.

While the Japanese government insists there is no immediate risk to ink or naphtha availability, it acknowledges that companies are facing instability and has convened fact‑finding engagements with affected manufacturers.

For Calbee, the packaging shift is a pre‑emptive measure to maintain stable shipments amid “unstable supply affecting certain raw materials”.

It follows a brief panic earlier this year when another crisps brand halted production due to difficulties sourcing heavy oil to run its factory — a reminder of how fragile energy‑linked inputs have become for FMCG producers.

Calbee’s black‑and‑white packs may be temporary, but the underlying message is not: packaging security is now part of the global food industry’s resilience playbook.

Source: Reuters