Food and drink prices in Japan are set to increase as early as this summer due to a war-driven shortage of a critical ingredient used in the production of plastic packaging, according to a report by corporate research firm Teikoku Databank.

Prolonged disruption to energy flows via the Strait of Hormuz has cut the availability of naphtha, prompting suppliers of polypropylene and polyethylene packaging derived from the petrochemical feedstock to demand higher prices with immediate effect. Small and mid-size food manufacturers are beginning to feel the impact, the report said.

The two-month-old war in the Middle East has upended global oil and gas markets, putting much of Asia in a vulnerable position as countries — including Japan — rely heavily on imports from the region.…