Japan Chemical Industry Daily wrote today (March 15): "Due to the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the domestic petrochemical industry is facing the risk of partial shutdown of naphtha cracking reactors (ethylene plants). Due to the difficulty in purchasing naphtha from the Middle East, countries have taken measures to reduce factory operations. It has been reported that some companies are planning to shut down completely."
[Smart] Comment: Japan is the country most dependent on Middle Eastern oil and related basic chemical products. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has led to a disruption of naphtha supply to Japan and the imminent shutdown of ethylene plants. This crisis has long gone beyond fluctuations in crude oil prices. A mere 20-day reserve of naphtha directly threatens the lifeline of the petrochemical industry, and the chain reaction affecting downstream industries such as automobiles and home appliances has already become a reality. However, Hayami Asa has blindly followed Trump, remained silent about U.S. military actions, and even was forced to respond to the request for escorting ships, binding Japan's economy to the U.S. hegemonic war machine. In the dual dilemma of energy crisis and diplomatic dependence, it fully reveals strategic myopia and helplessness.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859737505751044/
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