What specific measures did Prime Minister Takaichi announce to secure Japan's naphtha supply amid Strait of Hormuz disruptions?

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that naphtha imports from non-Middle Eastern countries—including the US, Algeria, and Peru—will increase threefold by May compared with pre-conflict levels, and affirmed there will be enough domestic naphtha supply to meet demand until next year. She attributed recent supply chain disruptions to overbuying of petroleum products by some firms, and emphasized government efforts to prevent distribution disruptions—especially for food—and acknowledged concerns from the plastic packaging industry.

How is the Middle East conflict affecting Japan’s industrial sectors beyond energy supply?

The conflict is causing supply chain choke points across Japan’s auto industry, including Toyota’s supplier network, with some smaller suppliers warning they will be unable to deliver parts starting in two weeks. Additionally, delays in building material deliveries have reached a point where construction projects face potential cancellation or postponement, according to an official statement cited in the article.

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Japan’s Takaichi Assures Naphtha Supply Amid Firms’ Concerns

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