Freetown, 22nd April 2026- Condom prices worldwide are set to rise sharply as Malaysia’s Karex Bhd, the world’s largest producer, warns of a 20% to 30% increase, with further hikes possible if the Iran war continues to disrupt supply chains.
According to a report by The Guardian, Karex chief executive Goh Miah Kiat said soaring freight costs, shipping delays and shortages of raw materials have left customers with dwindling stockpiles. “The situation is definitely very fragile; prices are expensive … We have no choice but to transfer the costs right now to the customers,” he told Reuters.
Karex manufactures more than five billion condoms annually, supplying global brands such as Durex and Trojan, as well as public health systems like the UK’s NHS and United Nations aid programmes. But the company now joins medical glove makers and other manufacturers bracing for bottlenecks as the conflict in Iran strains energy and petrochemical flows from the Middle East.
Since fighting erupted in late February, Karex has faced rising costs for synthetic rubber, nitrile, packaging materials and lubricants. Shipments to Europe and the United States now take nearly two months to arrive, double the usual time. “We’re seeing a lot more condoms actually sitting on vessels that have not arrived at their destination but are highly required,” Goh said.
The Guardian noted that global condom stockpiles had already dropped significantly after foreign aid cuts last year, particularly by the US Agency for International Development. Demand has surged by about 30% this year, further intensifying shortages in developing countries where delays in shipping are most keenly felt.
