Hormuz (Strait of Hormuz)

Huòěrmùzī

霍尔木兹

crisis

wēijī

危机

to trigger / to cause

yǐnfā

引发

Japan

Rìběn

日本

naphtha (petrochemical feedstock)

shínǎoyóu

石脑油

shortage

duǎnquē

短缺

，

building materials / construction materials

jiàncái

建材

costs

chéngběn

成本

sharply / significantly

dàfú

大幅

to climb / to surge

pānshēng

攀升

。

New Words

News in English

Hormuz Crisis Triggers Japan Naphtha Shortage as Building Material Costs Surge Sharply

The Hormuz crisis has severely disrupted Japan naphtha supply, pushing up building material costs, with analysts warning that Japanese home prices could rise by as much as 30 percent.

Due to Middle East conflicts, Japan is experiencing severe naphtha shortages, significantly impacting the construction industry. Naphtha is a key raw material for building material production, widely used in waterproof sheeting, pipes, paint, and insulation materials. Currently, roof waterproofing material prices are projected to rise 50%, while floor insulation material price increases reach 40%. Many construction sites have been forced to halt work due to materials failing to arrive. Some analysts warned that if supply shortages continue, Japanese residential sales prices could rise as much as 30%. Japan's economic minister stated the shortage is mainly caused by distribution bottlenecks, and coordinating with suppliers should gradually ease the situation. However, paint industry representatives noted that currently only about 3% of companies can procure thinner products through normal channels.

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