Condoms face price increases due to Iran War supply disruptions
A major global supplier of many of the most popular condom brands sold in the United States is preparing to raise prices as the War with Iran disrupts global shipping and key raw materials.
Karex, a Malaysia‑based manufacturer that produces condoms for leading U.S. brands including Durex, Trojan, ONE Condoms, Trustex, NuVo, Fantasy, Night Light and Satin Oral Dams, told Reuters it is facing severe shortages of essential raw materials. The company is one of the world’s largest condom makers, producing more than 5 billion units annually.
Karex CEO Goh Miah Kiat said the company is now grappling with soaring costs for synthetic rubber, lubricants, nitrile and other materials used in condom production. Prices for some inputs have doubled, while packaging materials such as aluminum foils and silicone oils have also surged.
Rising freight costs and widespread shipping delays have compounded the strain. With vessels stuck or rerouted due to the conflict, Goh said, “a lot more condoms are actually sitting on vessels that have not arrived at their destination but are highly required.”
As a result, Karex plans to raise its prices by 20% to 30%.
“The situation is definitely very fragile, prices are expensive,” Goh told Reuters. “We have no choice but to transfer the costs right now to the customers.”
The War with Iran has brought shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical oil chokepoint, to a near standstill. That slowdown has disrupted the flow of petroleum‑derived products, including plastics and rubber. Petrochemicals, which come from oil and natural gas, are used in more than 6,000 consumer goods, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Some of the other everyday items affected include computer keyboards, lipstick, tennis rackets, pajamas, soft contact lenses, detergent, chewing gum, shoes, crayons, shaving cream, pillows, aspirin, dentures, tape, umbrellas, and nylon guitar strings, just to name a few.
Karex did not immediately respond to NBC Local’s request for comment.
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