Concerns are growing over unstable supply and demand for pay-as-you-throw trash bags due to the fallout from the war between the United States and Iran. Disruptions in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, where cargo ships pass, are temporarily constricting the supply chain for naphtha, a key raw material for plastic.
According to the retail industry on the 24th, some outlets among major pay-as-you-throw trash bag sellers nationwide are securing stock later than usual.
Jongnyangje.com, an online shopping mall specializing in pay-as-you-throw trash bags, said in a notice on its website that "production and delivery schedules are somewhat irregular due to international conditions."
While stock has not yet run dry nationwide, there are signs of "panic buying," mainly in online communities, as people try to secure bags in advance.
Some local supermarkets saw a temporary shortage as more people bought larger quantities at once than usual.
As a result, some distribution channels are limiting purchases to around two bags per person to maintain stable supply.
The unstable supply and demand for pay-as-you-throw trash bags is largely due to delays in the supply of naphtha, the basic raw material for plastic products.
Naphtha, extracted during crude oil refining, enters Korea with about 54% of imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz. However, amid the recent Middle East conflict, Iran has blockaded the strait, destabilizing naphtha supply routes and delaying production.