With temperatures already more than 30 degrees Celsius in parts of Japan and summer still ahead, it¡¯s a peak time for the air conditioner business.
But fears of naphtha shortages and a shrinking labor force mean those purchasing a new unit may pay more than last year and then be forced to wait up to a month to have it installed.
The Iran war has resulted in oil shipments being largely blocked from exiting the Strait of Hormuz since late February, sparking concerns about naphtha, which is derived from crude oil.
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