Asia’s vendors grapple with rising costs of ever-present plastics - Taipei Times

Asia’s vendors grapple with rising costs of ever-present plastics - Taipei Times

Naphtha shortage from Strait of Hormuz closure forces Asian petrochemical cuts (Formosa 53%→35%), driving plastic costs +30-60% for food vendors. Geopolitical commodity concentration creates cascading price shocks; diversification to China/Africa mitigates but signals systemic fragility for cost-sensitive supply chains.