India, May 20 -- Japan is facing an unexpected economic crisis caused by Middle East tensions that are disrupting the world's energy supply routes. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping chokepoint, has become even more uncertain and the fear of a supply chain disruption spreads far beyond crude oil, to a lesser-known, but extremely vital, material: naphtha.

What we know about Naphtha? It is a flammable liquid processed from crude oil and natural gas processing, and a key raw material in the petrochemical industry. When cracked, it produces all the polymers that make up our lives: plastics, synthetic fibres, adhesives, insulation, solvents, printing inks and even medical supplies like syringes.

Why does Japan depend so heavily on na...