Japan Rejects Social Media Claims of Fuel Shortage
Pecohub Japan’s top government spokesman denied on Monday an online claim that Japan would be unable to secure naphtha, a raw material derived from crude oil that is used to produce plastics, in June as Middle East tensions raise supply concerns.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said the claim was “incorrect” and urged the public to check the government’s official views when they see dubious or worrying information, and not to spread it.
He said Japan has about four months of supply, including a total of two months of procured imported naphtha and domestically refined naphtha, plus two months of inventories of intermediate chemical products.
“At this point, no supply-demand problems have emerged, and Japan as a whole has secured the amount it needs,” Kihara said.
His remarks follow Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s post on social media platform X on Sunday, which stated Japan has secured “at least four months of domestic demand,” and that the stockpile could be increased to exceed six months by doubling imports from outside the Middle East.
