Japan faces a growing risk of a banana shortage after disruptions tied to the Middle East conflict spread to global supplies of ethylene, a gas used to ripen bananas. Bananas are shipped from producing countries while still green and are then ripened in controlled rooms filled with ethylene before reaching retailers. Multiple reports say ethylene supply is tightening because fewer quantities of the gas are available. The gas is derived from naphtha, and supply of naphtha is affected by broader energy and shipping disruptions linked to the conflict. Japan relies heavily on imported energy inputs; reports note it imports more than 90% of its crude oil, leaving supply chains more exposed to international shocks. One estimate cited in coverage states Japan bought about 1 million tonnes of bananas last year, underscoring the scale of demand. The reports indicate that reduced ethylene availability could delay ripening and make bananas harder to obtain on dining tables and store shelves, potentially leading to shortages rather than an immediate full stop in supply.
Japan nears banana shortage as ethylene supplies run low
Japan faces a growing risk of a banana shortage after disruptions tied to the Middle East conflict spread to global supplies of ethylene, a gas used to ripen bananas. Bananas are shipped from producin...
- Japan uses ethylene gas to ripen bananas after they are shipped while still green.
- Supplies of ethylene are running low, affecting ripening timelines.
- Ethylene is derived from naphtha, and naphtha supply is disrupted amid broader effects linked to the Middle East conflict.
- Japan is heavily dependent on imported energy inputs, with reports noting crude oil import reliance above 90%.
- Japan imported about 1 million tonnes of bananas last year, reflecting significant consumption.
Japan is slipping towards a banana shortage crisis, the latest disruption linked to the Middle East conflict. The reason: the country ships in the tropical fruit while it is still green, then ripens it in rooms filled with ethylene before bunches reach store shelves. Supplies of the naphtha-derived gas are running low in an economy that imports more than 90 per cent of its crude oil. Japan bought about 1 million tonnes of bananas last year, making the fruit one of the country’s most important...
2 months agoThe country ships in the tropical fruit while it's still green, then ripens it in rooms filled with ethylene, but supplies of the naphtha-derived gas are running low.
2 months agoJapan is slipping toward a banana shortage crisis, the latest disruption linked to the Middle East conflict.
2 months ago
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