Syringe Raw Material Shortage Feared Amid US-Iran War Fallout

Concerns are mounting that South Korea may have to revert to using glass syringes due to difficulties in securing raw materials, a potential consequence of escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. This raises the possibility of a return to glass syringes, which were in use from the mid-1840s before being largely replaced by disposable plastic syringes following advancements in plastic technology in the 1960s, primarily due to concerns over cross-infection from reuse. Despite a two-week ceasefire announced by the US and Iran on March 8th, following US President Donald Trump's threats against Iran on March 2nd, supply chain disruptions for various raw materials stemming from the conflict are expected to continue for months. South Korea imports approximately 70% of its crude oil from the Middle East, with a significant portion passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route now potentially affected by the war. Items such as plastic cups, garbage bags, concrete admixtures, semiconductor silicon wafer cutting fluids, and adhesives are identified as vulnerable products, suggesting that the entire domestic industry could face widespread repercussions. A US think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), has analyzed that among non-combatant nations, South Korea is among the most severely impacted by the current conflict. CSIS forecasts ripple effects on price increases in transportation, logistics, and petrochemical sectors over the next 2 to 6 months.

Jang Seok-beom, head of a department at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, stated, "There is a possibility that syringe raw material supply could be cut off after May." He added, "There are even discussions about returning to the era of glass syringes." This highlights the potential regression to the mid-1840s, when glass syringes first appeared and were later supplanted by disposable plastic versions from the 1960s onwards due to concerns about infection risks from reuse.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups is planning a supplementary budget of 1.9374 trillion won to support businesses struggling with the war's impact. However, analyses suggest that regulatory factors affecting the business ecosystem are making survival difficult for these companies.

Unforeseen geopolitical risks are shaking supply chains across the economy, presenting additional challenges for domestic businesses.