Japan's Strait of Hormuz Oil Imports Paused, Government Confirms Naphtha Supply Stability

Japan's oil imports through the Strait of Hormuz have stopped, according to a Japan Times report. The halt has raised questions about available supplies of petroleum-derived naphtha across a broad range of industries. Worries about an oil and naphtha shortage are acute for the agricultural industry and food-packaging businesses in Japan.

The stoppage affects not only agricultural production but also supply chains and individual consumers, the Japan Times reported. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addressed these concerns in a government meeting on April 30, 2026. She stated that supplies of polyethylene, a raw material derived from naphtha and used to make plastic food packaging containers, were sufficient based on last year’s demand.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi spoke during a budget committee session in the Upper House in Tokyo on April 27, 2026. The government is working to secure sufficient supplies of key raw materials amid the shortage concerns, according to the Japan Times.