According to the Japanese KK Gas Review, carbon dioxide and dry ice are in short supply due to a couple of contributing factors.
The Japanese summer calls for peak demand of these two resources, but with some facilities damaged by the earthquake and others capping electricity use to meet policy demands, the two commodities may be in short supply.
In particular, supply sources to the Kanto Area suffered damage from the earthquake. Similarly, the Cosmos oil plant in Chiba was shut down due to a butane storage tank fire, while the Air Water plant in Kashima called a temporary halt to outside tank delivery.
The facilities have monthly production of 2,300 tons and 4,000 tons respectively. According to KK Gas Review, this accounts for 10% of the overall supply into the Kanto vicinity and as such make recovery, “an urgent matter”.
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