00:00PVC pipes, plastic bags and straws, everyday items normally easy to get.
00:06But now they're becoming harder to find because of the conflict in the Middle East.
00:11The Iran war has disrupted the supply of petrochemicals, driving up the price of plastics.
00:27At many stores, some types of plastic bags have already sold out.
00:31Vendors are urging customers to bring their own bags, as it's harder for them to provide.
00:48The impact is being felt beyond Taiwan.
00:52A South Korean plastic filmmaker, whose factory mainly sources raw material from the Middle East,
00:57says its operations are in crisis, and they may have to shut down production soon.
01:03We usually have the capacity to produce 100 tons per day.
01:07But right now, we're producing at most 20 to 30 tons.
01:11That means it's only 20 to 30 percent of our usual output.
01:14As I mentioned earlier, since we're out of raw materials for some products,
01:19we'll have to gradually shut down the machines,
01:21and the next one to two weeks is likely to be very critical.
01:26Many customers are stocking up now, before prices grow even further.
01:32I was worried that garbage bags would get more expensive, so I bought 10 20-liter ones.
01:37I also bought lots of ramen yesterday,
01:39because the cost of plastic packaging probably accounts for a big part of the product's price.
01:45In response to the supply problems,
01:47Taiwan's government says that major producers in the country
01:50will prioritize the domestic market,
01:52and the government will step in to help secure materials.
02:13With no clear end in sight to the Middle East conflict,
02:17businesses and customers can only brace for the continued supply pressures and rising costs.
02:22Chris Manzanichu for Time Plus.
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