{"id":55586,"date":"2026-04-22T01:06:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T05:06:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/middle-east-conflict-driving-up-costs-of-everyday-items-made-with-petroleum\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T01:06:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T05:06:15","slug":"middle-east-conflict-driving-up-costs-of-everyday-items-made-with-petroleum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/middle-east-conflict-driving-up-costs-of-everyday-items-made-with-petroleum\/","title":{"rendered":"Middle East Conflict Driving Up Costs of Everyday Items Made with Petroleum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 The ongoing Middle East conflict is having an unexpected impact on everyday consumer goods, from children’s plush toys to clothing and medical supplies, as petroleum-based materials become increasingly expensive.<\/p>

Ricardo Venegas, CEO of Aleni Brands based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, discovered this connection firsthand when his company’s stuffed animal products \u2014 including toys called Snuggle Glove, Bizzikins and Wobblies \u2014 faced rising production costs. These soft toys contain polyester and acrylic fibers that come from petroleum sources.<\/p>

Just three weeks into the conflict, Venegas received word from Chinese suppliers that material costs had jumped 10% to 15%. “I think this situation demonstrates how much oil permeates throughout our system, and we can’t get away from it,” Venegas explained. “Who would have thought that the price of a toy would have a direct relationship with oil?”<\/p>

The impact extends far beyond toys. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, petroleum-derived chemicals are components in over 6,000 everyday products. This includes computer keyboards, cosmetics, sports equipment, clothing, contact lenses, cleaning products, gum, footwear, art supplies, personal care items, pillows, medications, dental products, office supplies, umbrellas and musical instrument strings.<\/p>

While rising gas prices have been the most visible consequence of the conflict for consumers, the effects are spreading to other areas. Air travelers face higher ticket prices as airlines deal with increased jet fuel costs. Food and furniture prices may also climb due to higher diesel costs for trucking companies.<\/p>

However, petroleum’s role extends beyond fuel production. Oil gets processed into chemicals, waxes and other compounds that become essential ingredients in plastic and rubber products, as well as packaging materials. After eight weeks of global oil supply disruptions, manufacturing costs are rising across multiple industries, according to trade associations and individual companies.<\/p>

Venegas, who has three decades of experience in the toy business, plans to absorb the higher costs temporarily but anticipates raising customer prices by early 2027 if the conflict continues for another three to six months.<\/p>

Gernot Wagner, a climate economist at Columbia University’s School of Business, notes that while 85% of global oil use involves fuel, the remaining 15% goes into various consumer products.<\/p>

Oil consists primarily of hydrocarbon compounds containing carbon and hydrogen atoms. Processing facilities break these down into smaller chemical components called petrochemicals. Six key petrochemicals \u2014 ethylene, propylene, butylene, benzene, toluene and xylenes \u2014 serve as the foundation for plastics and synthetic materials like nylon and polyester, which manufacturers then use in countless products. Additional Department of Energy examples include car parts, writing instruments, home furnishings, gaming equipment, vision correction products, plant nutrients, sporting goods, medical devices, pest control products, watercraft, travel accessories, cleaning tools and beauty products.<\/p>

Andrew Walberer, a partner and global chemicals practice leader at strategy consultancy Kearney, explains that raw materials represent a significant portion of manufacturing expenses for companies producing carpets, apparel and tires.<\/p>

Using dress shirts as an example, Walberer calculates that materials comprise 27%-30% of manufacturing costs, while labor accounts for 10%-30%. The remainder covers marketing, distribution and administrative expenses.<\/p>

Industry analysts warn that if oil prices remain above $90 per barrel over the coming months, cost pressures will intensify throughout supply chains.<\/p>

Matt Priest, CEO of Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America, explains that most member companies maintain two to three months of finished product inventory, providing temporary protection against rising material costs.<\/p>

According to a recent trade organization report analyzing the U.S. footwear industry’s “exposure to oil prices & the impact on shoe costs,” approximately 70% of synthetic shoe materials are petroleum-based, with 30% of those material costs directly linked to oil price fluctuations.<\/p>

The FDRA study projects that increased petroleum costs could result in 1.5% to 3% higher shoe prices for consumers by late summer and fall, factoring in materials, factory energy and transportation expenses.<\/p>

Nate Herman, executive vice president of the American Apparel & Footwear Association, notes that by late April, U.S. shoe and clothing manufacturers must finalize supplier contracts \u2014 primarily with overseas companies \u2014 for polyester materials needed for holiday season merchandise.<\/p>

The price for one kilogram (slightly over two pounds) of polyester textile materials has risen from an average of 90 cents before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran to $1.33 per kilogram, Herman reports. He estimates this will add 10 to 15 cents to each garment’s production cost.<\/p>

Some companies are implementing strategies to manage rising expenses. Lisa Lane, founder of Rinseroo, which produces portable shower attachments for cleaning and pet care, recently tripled her monthly orders from China after her manufacturer warned of a 30% price increase within 30 days. She had only a few days to decide on placing a three-month advance order.<\/p>

Rinseroo’s products contain petroleum derivatives including polyvinyl chloride, Lane explained. After ordering 240,000 units instead of her typical 80,000, she’s exploring ways to reduce other costs.<\/p>

Lane prefers not to raise prices for retailers since Rinseroo already did so last year to offset higher U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports. For instance, a pet bathing hose increased from $29.95 to $33.95 on retail websites. “We want to stay at that sweet spot where people want to continue to buy from us and feel like they’re getting a good value,” Lane stated.<\/p>

Gentell, a medical supply company selling wound care products like bandages and dressings to nursing homes and healthcare facilities, plans to implement a 15% price increase within weeks. CEO David Navazio points out that product adhesives depend on various petrochemicals.<\/p>

Considering both energy and material costs, Navazio estimates the company’s expenses are increasing by 20%. The Yardley, Pennsylvania-based company manufactures primarily in Toronto and also produces private label items for other firms, including a medical technology company that supplies retailers like CVS.<\/p>

Since bandages and dressings are essential medical supplies, Navazio doesn’t expect business to decline with higher prices. However, he’s uncertain whether costs will decrease once the conflict ends and oil shipments normalize.<\/p>

“In the past, I’ve seen transportation costs come down, but I’ve never seen prices of raw material come down,” he observed.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is causing price increases for thousands of everyday products that contain petroleum-based materials, from stuffed animals to shoes. Companies across various industries are reporting 10-30% higher material costs, with some planning to pass these increases to consumers by late summer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":55585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[834],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776834374825.png?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-esy","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":73931,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/global-leaders-warn-middle-east-conflict-threatens-energy-security-worldwide\/","url_meta":{"origin":55586,"position":0},"title":"Global Leaders Warn Middle East Conflict Threatens Energy Security Worldwide","author":"Admin","date":"May 29, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Leaders from major international organizations cautioned Friday that ongoing Middle East warfare is putting stress on worldwide energy markets. 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