From Diet Coke To Helium: Consumers Feeling Iran War Shortages

BreakingBusinessFrom Diet Coke To Helium: Consumers Feeling Iran War ShortagesByMary Whitfill Roeloffs,Forbes Staff. Mary Roeloffs is a Forbes breaking news reporter covering pop culture.Follow AuthorMay 12, 2026, 02:25pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.ToplineCalbee, Japan's biggest snack maker, on Tuesday warned its products will switch from their famously colorful packaging to black-and-white labels by the end of the month due to an Iran war-spurred shortage of an ink ingredient, the latest disruption to hit the supply chain due to the conflict in the Middle East. Diet Coke cans are displayed for sale in India, where the conflict involving Iran has led to a shortage of Diet Coke, on April 22, 2026.NurPhoto via Getty ImagesKey FactsThe packaging change is reportedly to a shortage of naptha, an ink ingredient derived from petroleum, of which Japan imports 40% of its consumption from the Middle East via the Strait of Hormuz shipping channel that has been closed since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran at the end of February. The naphtha shortage is also being felt by manufacturers of cars, bathrooms and paint, according to the New York Times, which has also reported problems securing the ingredient. The change from Calbee comes after Yamayoshi Seika, another Japanese snack manufacturer, was forced to pause production of its popular Wasabeef potato chips due to a lack of heavy oil needed for its factory machinery, triggered by the Hormuz shipping disruption. The closure of the strait has caused other shortages around the world, including in India, where a lack of the aluminum needed to make cans has led to a scarcity of Diet Coke and spurred "Diet Coke parties," where the drink is treated as limited-availability item and often sold at significant markups.Also in India, some restaurants have warned they’ll be forced to close due to a shortage of cooking gas, and fac...