Published：May 11, 16:00Last updated：May 13, 07:05

Calbee Shifts to Black-and-White Packaging Amid Supply Crisis

May. 11, 2026 16:00

日本零食巨头卡乐比宣布，由于中东局势紧张导致印刷油墨原料石脑油供应不稳定，公司决定从5月下旬开始，将14款主力商品的包装改为仅用黑白两色的简化设计。这些产品包括淡盐味薯片、虾条和水果麦片等热门品类。新的包装将取消彩色印刷及产品实物图、卡通代言形象，只保留品牌与产品名称等核心文字信息，以确保稳定供货。卡乐比表示，将继续努力解决供应问题，消费者最快可以在5月底在日本商超看到改版后的产品。

Summarized

10News

7Media

May. 13, 2026 04:03

Due to a naphtha shortage, Japan's leading potato chip maker Calbee Inc. will sell 14 of its major snack products in black-and-white packaging. The shortage has disrupted production processes, prompting this temporary change. The move highlights the impact of supply chain issues on consumer goods.

May. 13, 2026 07:05

Calbee's shift to black-and-white packaging highlights the impact of the Iran war on supply chains, despite government assurances of sufficient naphtha supplies. The change was reported on May 13, 2026. Bottlenecks in production have been identified as a key issue.

Japanese snack giant Calbee Inc. announced it will transition 14 of its popular products to black-and-white packaging by late May 2026, citing severe supply chain disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. The decision stems from shortages of naphtha, a critical component for colored ink production, following Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This marks the first time in Calbee's history that it will abandon its signature colorful packaging designs. China.org+2

🚢 Strait of Hormuz Impact

The blockade has created a global naphtha shortage, as 30% of the world's petrochemical shipments typically pass through this critical waterway. Calbee relies on naphtha-derived materials for its vibrant packaging inks. The company joins over 70% of Japanese manufacturers making operational adjustments due to the crisis. Chosun Ilbo+2

📦 Packaging Changes

Affected products include:

Lightly Salted Potato Chips
Shrimp Crackers
Fruit Granola
New packaging will feature:

Monochrome design only
Removal of product images
Simplified text branding
The changes are expected to roll out across Japanese supermarkets by May 31. China.org+2

⚙️ Production Adjustments

Calbee has implemented several contingency measures:

Measure	Impact
Reduced ink colors	60% lower naphtha usage
Delayed new products	Focus on core items
Increased inventory	2-week buffer stock
The company emphasizes these changes are temporary but cannot predict when full-color packaging will resume. Mainichi Shimbun+2