Condom prices to rise as Hormuz closure disrupts supply

The world’s largest condom producer, Karex Bhd, plans to raise prices by 20% to 30%, as the war in Iran causes disruptions in the supply chain.

The Malaysia-based company said yesterday that rising energy and petrochemical costs are sharply increasing production expenses.

Chief executive Goh Miah Kiat said higher freight rates and shipping delays have reduced customer inventories, pushing global demand up by about 30% this year.

Karex produces over five billion condoms annually and supplies to major brands like Durex and Trojan, along with public health systems such as the National Health Service and global aid programs run by the United Nations.

The company says input costs for synthetic rubber, nitrile, aluminum foil, and silicone oil have surged by 25% to 30% since late February.

At the same time, global condom stockpiles have fallen due to funding cuts, including reduced support from the United States Agency for International Development.

Karex has also seen shipping times to Europe and the US double to nearly two months, leaving critical supplies stuck in transit and worsening shortages, especially in developing countries.

Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have sharply disrupted shipping after Iran threatened vessel movements. This has raised transport costs and delayed deliveries worldwide.

The war is also pushing up airfares by an average of 24%, while fertilizer, helium, bottled water, and food prices are also rising. The United Nations has warned that sugar, dairy, and fruit prices will climb further due to higher transport costs.