World Condom Shortage Looms as Karex Raises Prices 30% Due to Strait of Hormuz Disruptions

Gate News message, April 22 — Karex, the Malaysian manufacturer supplying Durex, Trojan, and the NHS, plans to increase condom prices by as much as 30% in response to shipping disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The company produces 5 billion condoms annually.

Since the conflict began in late February, Karex has faced rising costs for raw materials including synthetic rubber, nitrile, lubricants, and packaging materials that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Shipment times to the U.S. and Europe have doubled to two months. Chief Executive Goh Miah Kiat stated the company has “no choice but to transfer the costs right now to the customers” and confirmed sufficient supplies to last a few months.

The supply chain disruption extends beyond condoms. Shipping costs have risen 24% on average for air travel, while fertilizer prices have climbed and helium shortages threaten computer chip manufacturing. The bottled water industry faces raw material constraints. The UN warned that sugar, dairy, and fruit prices will increase due to rising transport costs. Additionally, Trump administration cuts to foreign aid have limited condom supplies to several countries, particularly in Africa where they have been critical to controlling HIV epidemics.