Japan’s snack lovers are facing a crunch - and not the good kind. Popular crisp maker Yamayoshi Seika has announced it is being forced to halt production of some of its best-selling potato chips after running into trouble sourcing the fuel needed to cook them.

The culprit? Turmoil in the Middle East of course.

As a result, the company has pulled the plug on several lines, including its cult-favourite Wasabeef crisps, with production stopping at its factory in Hyogo prefecture near Osaka. The issue, Japan’s Kyodo News reports, lies in securing heavy oil, a key ingredient used to heat cooking oil used in the production process. And it’s not just snacks taking a hit.

Industrial giants are also feeling the squeeze. Mitsubishi Chemical is hiking prices on a number of key materials used in paints and adhesives as costs surge while supplies tighten. Meanwhile, Idemitsu Kosan has been reported as cutting back production of ethylene, a crucial chemical building block – again due to oil shortages. Another petrochem firm, Shin-Etsu Chemical is also set to jack up prices of PVC used in pipes and infrastructure, by as much as 20%, adding further pressure across industries.

Despite the chaos, the Japan Petrochemical Industry Association insists there’s no need to panic just yet, pointing to stockpiles that could last up to four months. Still, there’s a catch. Around 40% of Japan’s naphtha - a crucial oil-based ingredient for plastics - including those used in making crisp packets, comes straight from the Middle East. As such, with the region on edge, companies are scrambling to find alternative supplies.

For now, it’s not just geopolitics making waves – shortages are affecting the snack aisle too.