Rising Naphtha Prices in Japan Drive Up Costs for Diapers, Sanitary Products, and Cosmetics

Japanese consumer goods companies are raising prices on essential items—including diapers, sanitary products, detergents, and skincare goods—as rising naphtha costs increase their raw material expenses.

Kao Corporation plans to gradually raise prices on products such as Attack laundry detergent and Biore skincare lotions starting in July, followed by Laurier sanitary pads and other items from September. Daio Paper Corporation will increase prices on products including Goo.n diapers and Elis sanitary pads by at least 15% from August. Unicharm will also hike prices on diapers and sanitary pads from July. These price increases are linked to rising costs for naphtha-derived materials such as nonwoven fabrics, surfactants, and superabsorbent polymers, with supply disruptions exacerbated by instability in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Calbee is introducing “oil-saving packaging” for some of its snack products due to a shortage of printing ink related to naphtha supply, which has affected packaging production.

These developments underscore how geopolitical tensions and rising petrochemical costs are putting pressure on consumer goods supply chains, forcing manufacturers to pass higher production and packaging costs on to consumers while seeking ways to maintain stable supply.