Protection Becoming Harder to Afford As The Price OF Condom Rise

A quiet but critical global industry is being shaken as the world’s biggest condom maker, Karex Bhd, faces mounting pressure from a supply chain crisis tied to the ongoing war in Iran The company is preparing customers for a sharp price increase of 20% to 30%, with the warning that prices could climb even higher if disruptions continue. At the center of it all is rising production cost. According to CEO Goh Miah Kiat, the company has reached a breaking point. The cost of making condoms has surged so much that Karex can no longer absorb the losses and must pass them on.

Synthetic rubber and nitrile, the core ingredients, are becoming more expensive. Packaging materials like aluminium foil and lubricants such as silicone oil are also rising in price. These are not small increases they are happening across the board, all at once, driven by disruptions in energy and chemical supplies flowing out of the Middle East.

Just as production becomes more expensive, demand is rising sharply. Karex reports a 30% jump in demand this year, as buyers scramble to restock. Many customers, including global brands like Durex and Trojan, are running low. Public health providers such as the United Nations and the UK’s NHS are also part of this strained supply chain.

Shipping delays are making things worse. Condoms that once took about a month to reach markets in Europe and the United States are now taking nearly two months. This means millions of units are stuck at sea badly needed, but out of reach.

The result is a growing imbalance rising demand, shrinking available stock, and climbing prices. In developing countries, where access is already fragile, the delays are even more serious, leaving gaps that are not easily filled.

Karex says it has enough materials to keep production going for now and is pushing to increase output. It is a ripple effect from a distant conflict, now landing directly in homes, clinics, and health systems around the world.

Read Also: Civil Society Urges Govt To End Condom Shortage

By Robai Ludenyi