Home > Business > Industry

Industry minister inspects manufacturing sites as Iran war throttles petrochemical supply

Published: 13 Apr. 2026, 17:54

Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, second from left, visits a factory in Ansan, Gyeonggi, to check the supply status of semiconductor materials on April 13. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan on Monday inspected manufacturing operations of daily necessities amid concerns over the supply of petrochemical feedstocks due to the ongoing Iran war.

Kim toured four companies producing materials used in syringes, food packaging, paint and semiconductor components in an industrial complex in Ansan in Gyeonggi, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

The visit comes as disruptions to the supply of key raw materials, such as naphtha and other petrochemical inputs, have intensified since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, as the Strait of Hormuz, a major Middle Eastern shipping route, has been effectively shut down.

During the visit, Kim inspected the production and supply status of petrochemical products closely linked to public welfare and key industries.

He expressed the government's commitment to strictly managing essential health and medical supplies and called for industry cooperation to stabilize the supply and prices of paint products.

“We are giving top priority to ensuring that there is not even a single day of disruption in the supply chains of health care, daily necessities and key national industries," Kim was quoted by the ministry as saying.

The ministry said it is currently monitoring inventory levels and supply trends on a daily basis through a dedicated task force of about 40 officials.

Yonhap