Taiwan to boost plastic bag productionMARKET STABILIZATION: CPC and Formosa Plastics have secured additional crude oil and naphtha shipments until July, as a plastic shortage in the medical sector loomsBy Chen Yu-fu / Staff reporterTaiwan is to increase monthly plastic bag production equivalent to 1.25 billion 600ml bags to address a shortage, the Executive Yuan said yesterday. As instability in the Middle East impacted energy supplies, a “plastic bag crisis” has occurred in Taiwan in the past few weeks, sparking public frustration. The nation’s total production of the upstream raw material would increase from 60,000 tonnes last month to 79,000 tonnes this month, and reach 90,000 tonnes next month, with a maximum production expansion of 30,000 tonnes, it said. The total production of midstream raw material polyethylene would rise from 22,000 tonnes last month to 27,500 tonnes this month with a further increase expected next month, it said. Eight pharmaceutical companies and 14 medical device manufacturers had reported potential plastic material shortages, and with the IDA’s assistance, six pharmaceutical and six medical device manufacturers have been matched with raw material and packaging suppliers, Chiang said.

Source: Taipei Times April 06, 2026 17:46 UTC