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⑴ Data from Japan's Ministry of Finance on Thursday showed that in April, Japan's imports of petroleum-derived naphtha fell 47% year-on-year to 1.14 million kiloliters. Imports from the Middle East plummeted by 79.1%, recording only 341,700 kiloliters, with its share of total imports dropping sharply from about 70% to 30%. ⑵ Regional conflicts have led to severe disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transportation route. To make up for the shortfall, Japan's naphtha imports from other regions surged by 52.4% year-on-year. ⑶ Naphtha is a crucial raw material for the chemical industry and is widely used in products such as plastics, adhesives, and solvents in coatings and paints. The tight supply is impacting various sectors in resource-poor Japan. According to reports, several food and beverage companies, including major brands, have been forced to simplify product packaging designs and raise prices due to the tightening supply of key raw materials such as naphtha.

Loss per share for the first quarter was $0.13, the same as the loss per share in the same period last year.

(1) According to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of April 2026, the average hourly wage for Missouri residents is $33.92, ranking 29th in the United States (including Washington, D.C.). Missouri residents work an average of 32.9 hours per week, with an average weekly income of $1,115.97, which translates to an annual salary of approximately $58,030. (2) Compared to neighboring states, Missouri’s average hourly wage of $33.92 is only lower than Illinois at $36.35, but higher than Kansas ($32.98), Nebraska ($32.56), Oklahoma ($31.94), Tennessee ($31.79), Kentucky ($30.72), Iowa ($30.59), and Arkansas ($29.53). (3) Employees in Washington, D.C. have the highest average hourly wage at $57.39, which is nearly $24 higher than in Missouri, but the cost of living there is about 50% higher than in St. Louis. Mississippi has the lowest average hourly wage at $28.98.