Bananas Threatened with Scarcity as Industrial Gas Crisis Disrupts Global Supply Chain

Japan is facing new pressure on its food industry supply chain due to a shortage of ethylene, a critical gas used to accelerate the ripening process of fruits such as bananas. This situation has caused several fruit processing companies to struggle with maintaining product availability in the domestic market.

The Japanese government is attempting to stabilise the situation by ensuring that the supply of industrial raw materials remains secure. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that the country has sufficient supplies of naphtha to meet domestic needs until 2027; however, field conditions indicate that pressure persists in certain sectors.

This ethylene shortage is forcing fruit ripening companies in Japan to seek alternative sources outside of traditional petrochemical supply chains. One US-based company, Catalytic Generators from Virginia, has begun shipping machines capable of producing ethylene gas from corn and other raw materials as an alternative. The company is also actively seeking official distributors in Japan to expand the supply of these tools amidst the ongoing crisis.

Meanwhile, Farmind, one of Japan’s fruit processing companies, revealed that its ethylene reserves are continuously depleting. The company is now actively searching for new suppliers, both domestically and internationally, to maintain operations. A company spokesperson noted that costs related to ethylene procurement have increased nearly tenfold due to supply constraints. “If this continues, bananas could disappear from the dining tables of the Japanese people,” the spokesperson said, as quoted by The Straits Times on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.

Ethylene is a vital gas in the food industry because it is used to control the ripening process of fruit in large quantities before distribution to markets. Without a stable supply, the fresh fruit distribution chain can be disrupted, affecting consumer prices. This situation highlights how the modern food industry’s dependence on energy-based chemicals can create new risks when global supply disruptions occur. Consequently, several industry players are now considering the diversification of ethylene sources, including the use of bio-based technologies or agricultural raw materials such as corn, to reduce reliance on petrochemical supplies.