Some Japanese snack packages are turning black and white as Iran war depletes ink supply

It marks the latest example of how everyday goods are being impacted after Iran effectively closed the key Strait of Hormuz waterway in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes on the country.

The Iran war has wreaked havoc on global supply chains, caused a spike in oil prices and scrambled international trade.

Meanwhile, Japanese snack giant Calbee has decided to temporarily switch to black and white packaging for some of its products including crisps and prawn crackers due to supply instability in printing ink, made using petrochemical materials.

The move to black and white was forced on Calbee by disrupted supplies of naptha, an ink ingredient derived from petroleum.