The world’s biggest condom maker says the Iran war is poised to make condoms more expensive. Malaysia-based Karex, which churns out more than 5 billion condoms a year for its own ONE, Trustex, and Carex labels as well as for brands like Durex and Trojan, health systems, and UN aid programs, is eyeing price hikes of 20% to 30%—and possibly more—amid war-linked supply snarls in the Middle East. CEO Goh Miah Kiat tells Reuters the Iran conflict has pushed up costs for key materials, from synthetic rubber and nitrile to foil packaging and silicone oil, and that “we have no choice but to transfer the costs right now to the customers.”
Bloomberg reports the price increase will come into effect within the next few months and quotes Goh as describing the price adjustments as “one of the biggest … we’ve done in a very long time.” In Bloomberg’s view, “The surge in condom costs underscores how the Middle East war … is disrupting virtually every aspect of life for consumers.” And Goh says higher costs don’t cause consumers to cut back on their condom purchases. “In bad times, the need to use condoms is even more because you’re uncertain with your future, whether you’d still have a job next year. If you have a baby right now, you’ll have one more mouth to feed.”
