Even packaging is pushing food prices up here in Japan

I only just blogged the other day about Yamazaki Baking raising prices on more than 300 items, and here we are again with more upward pressure on everyday food costs.

This time, the issue isn't the cost of flour or transport, but something a bit less obvious...packaging. A new report from Teikoku Databank that was featured in the Japan Times points to a shortage of naphtha, which is a key ingredient used to make plastic packaging like wrappers and containers. The shortage is being driven by the ongoing instability in the Middle East, so as you can see, the knock-on effects are hard to avoid.

Life in plastic...not so fantastic...

Suppliers of packaging materials are already raising prices, and smaller food and drink makers are starting to feel the squeeze. That likely means more price hikes hitting shelves as early as this summer, with confectionery expected to be among the hardest hit.