Japanese snack manufacturer Yamayoshi Seika has suspended production of six products, including its flagship wasabi and beef-flavored potato chips known as Wasabeef, due to difficulties securing heavy oil used in its manufacturing process. The company cited disruptions linked to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint for global oil shipments that has been effectively blocked amid ongoing conflict. With no timeline set for resuming production, Yamayoshi has also temporarily closed its direct sales store and online shop, halting new orders while fulfilling those already placed. Retail availability will now be limited to existing inventories at supermarkets and other outlets.
The production halt represents one of the first tangible impacts of the oil shock on Japanese consumers, highlighting how disruptions in global energy supply chains can produce unexpected knock-on effects even in the snack aisle. The Strait of Hormuz handles a significant share of global crude exports, and for a country heavily dependent on imports like Japan, such disruptions quickly translate into fuel shortages that affect manufacturing across sectors. News of the chips’ sudden unavailability sparked a wave of dismay on social media among fans, with many netizens expressing concern that other everyday goods might soon disappear from shelves as well.
