Material Shortages Disrupt Construction Across Japan

Rising material shortages linked to Middle East tensions are beginning to disrupt construction and repair work across Japan, The Mainichi Shimbun reported.

Construction projects in Japan face delays due to rising material costs and supply issues.

The Tokyo-based Economic Research Association said prices for key materials have surged sharply.

Straight asphalt, a petroleum-based paving material, rose to 142,000 yen (about $890) per metric ton in Tokyo, up 46.4% from the previous month. This marks a significant increase from the 2023–2025 average range of 100,900 to 108,200 yen.

Reinforcing steel bars used in construction rose 4.8% to 108,000 yen per metric ton.

Research firm Teikoku Databank warned that about 46,741 manufacturers—roughly 30% of domestic firms—face procurement risks tied to petroleum-based materials.

“The supply chain for petrochemical products is extremely broad,” the firm said, noting the risk of cascading business disruptions.