Condom prices could soon rise worldwide as war-related shipping disruptions put pressure on one of the industry’s biggest manufacturers.
Karex, the Malaysia-based company known as the world’s largest condom producer, says it plans to raise prices by 20 percent to 30 percent, with increases potentially going even higher. CEO Goh Miah Kiat told Reuters the company is dealing with growing costs linked to supply chain issues caused by the Iran war.
“The situation is definitely very fragile, prices are expensive,” Kiat told the outlet. “We have no choice but to transfer the costs right now to the customers.”
Much of the strain centers around the Strait of Hormuz, a major global shipping route that has faced delays since the conflict began in late February. Karex says the slowdown has increased costs for raw materials used in condom production and packaging, while longer transit times have created shortages in some markets.
Demand has also climbed as buyers move to secure inventory before further delays or price jumps hit shelves.
Karex produces more than 5 billion condoms annually and manufactures condoms for Durex, Trojan, ONE, Trustex, U-Safe, Carex, and LifeStyles, along with private-label products for retailers and public health programs. Because of that massive footprint, any increase in production costs could quickly affect retail prices across global markets.
Shipments heading to Europe and the United States that once took about one month are now taking nearly two months, according to Reuters.
“We’re seeing a lot more condoms actually sitting on vessels that have not arrived at their destination but are highly required,” the CEO added.
The expected price hike is another example of how international conflict can impact everyday consumer goods in unexpected ways. If shipping disruptions continue, customers may soon notice higher prices for essential health products at stores and online.
