Kochi’s Iconic “Millet Biscuit” Faces Production Halt Amid Global Naphtha Crisis

It was revealed on the 13th that certain products of "Millet Biscuit," a snack widely beloved across Japan as the "soul food" of Kochi Prefecture, have been forced into a production halt due to a severe naphtha shortage. The primary cause is the difficulty in procuring packaging materials, a development that has left fans in dismay.

According to information from the manufacturer, Nomura Senmame Kakoten (Kochi City), the current suspension of production and orders targets high-volume and portion-controlled products that require significant packaging material, such as the "Millet Super Big Pack" and the "4-Pack Linked Millet Biscuits." The situation is expected to worsen, with production of additional small-sized packs scheduled to stop on June 1st. In a strange turn of events, while the biscuits themselves can still be manufactured, the plastic bags to hold them simply cannot be secured.

Following the news, social media was flooded with mourning comments: "The king of afternoon snacks is..." and "It is painful to think the nostalgic taste I have eaten since childhood might disappear." Some fans were seen rushing to nearby stores to stock up, with reports of some shops already running low on inventory.

The root cause is a global shortage of naphtha (crude gasoline) triggered by heightening tensions in the Middle East. As naphtha is a raw material for plastic packaging, the impact is spreading beyond Millet Biscuits to various sectors of the food industry, including ketchup containers and potato chip bags. As this crisis hits a beloved household snack, criticism of the government's energy and resource security measures is growing. There are fears that the impact of this "Naphtha Shock" on daily life may expand further in the future.

The context

Millet Biscuits (locally known as "Mire Biscuits") are deep-fried, bite-sized crackers famous for their distinctively salty-sweet flavor and crunchy texture. Originally a product of the Meiji company, the manufacturing process was eventually passed down to regional producers, with Kochi Prefecture's Nomura Senmame Kakoten becoming the most famous. In Japan, "soul food" refers to a beloved local staple that evokes strong nostalgia. The term "naphtha" refers to a petroleum product used as a primary feedstock for the petrochemical industry to produce plastics. Because Japan relies heavily on imports for its energy and raw materials, global geopolitical instability often directly affects the supply chain of everyday consumer goods, leading to the "shocks" mentioned in the article.