Personal Finance

Condom costs could rise as Iran war disrupts supply chains

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by Zach Kaplan - 04/23/26 8:55 AM ET

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by Zach Kaplan - 04/23/26 8:55 AM ET

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(NewsNation) — Global health may suffer as the world’s largest condom manufacturer eyes a price hike due to supply chain disruptions resulting from the Iran war.

Malaysian-based brand Karex plans to raise prices by 20 percent to 30 percent, or even higher, its CEO, Goh Miah Kiat, told Reuters this week.

“The situation is definitely very fragile, prices are expensive,” Kiat told the outlet. “We have no choice but to transfer the costs right now to ⁠the customers.”

Global supply chains have been disrupted by shipping delays through the Strait of Hormuz since the Iran war began in late February. Kiat says his company has faced rising prices for materials used to manufacture and package condoms since the onset of the conflict.

Demand for condoms has risen as higher shipping costs and delays have left customers with lower-than-normal supplies, he said. Karex produces over 5 billion condoms per year and is a supplier for well-known brands like Durex and Trojan, Reuters reports.

Karex’s shipments to Europe and the U.S., which previously took a month, now take close to two months, Reuters reports.

“We’re seeing a lot more condoms actually sitting on vessels that have not ⁠arrived at their destination but are highly required,” the CEO added.

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