Karex Raises Global Condom Prices Set to Rise as Iran War Disrupts Supply Chains

The Malaysian company Karex, which produces about five billion condoms a year, said it was raising prices by 30 percent because of higher raw material prices and global shipping disruptions.

1. Karex Raises Prices Up to 30%

· Karex, the world’s largest condom producer, announced price increases of up to 30 percent.

· The company cited:

o Surging raw material costs

o Global shipping disruptions

o Higher freight charges

o Supply pressures linked to the Iran conflict

2. Raw Material Costs Surge

· Karex said some input prices have risen as much as 100 percent.

· Materials affected include:

o Nitrile and synthetic rubber

o Packaging materials

o Silicone oil

o Aluminum foil

· Disruptions have been linked partly to instability around the Strait of Hormuz.

3. Production Risks and Supply Concerns

· Karex produces about five billion condoms annually, roughly one-fifth of global supply.

· Management warned shortages of even a single key input could disrupt or halt production.

· The company also flagged risks to manufacturing jobs if disruptions persist.

4. Global Brands and Public Health Programs Affected

· Karex supplies major brands including:

o Durex

o Trojan

· It also supplies products for government-supported AIDS prevention and family planning programs.

5. Demand Rising, Panic Buying Risk Mentioned

· The company said demand has increased this year, especially in developing markets.

· It warned prolonged disruption could trigger consumer panic buying and potential shortages.

Overall Message

Escalating supply-chain stress linked to the Iran conflict is pushing up costs for the world’s biggest condom producer, raising concerns over higher prices, supply risks and possible impacts on public health programs globally.

[ABS News Service/25.04.2026]

The world’s largest condom maker is raising prices of its products by up to 30 percent, warning that shortages of raw materials and chemicals because of the Iran war could disrupt production.

The Malaysian condom company, Karex, which produces about five billion condoms a year, blamed a surge in raw material prices, global shipping disruptions and higher freight costs for the price increases.

The de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz has led to a surge in the price of oil and gas, disrupting supply chains and driving up costs for a wide range of materials that companies like Karex depends on, including nitrile and synthetic rubber, packaging materials, silicone oil and aluminum foil.

“Some raw material prices have increased by 100 percent. We have no choice but to make adjustments now,” Goh Miah Kiat, the chief executive of Karex, said in an interview with The New York Times on Thursday.

The company says that it makes about a fifth of the world’s condoms and uses more than a hundred chemicals and raw materials in its production. If the war persists, Mr. Goh said, a shortage of even a single item could ripple through its factories and bring production to a halt.

“There will be jobs that will be at stake, ” Mr. Goh warned.

Karex supplies some of the world’s best-known contraceptive brands, including Durex and Trojan. The company employs around 3,000 people in its factories in Malaysia and Thailand, and sources materials from countries across Asia and Europe. It sells its One brand of condoms for an average retail price of 9 ringgit for a pack of three, or over $2, in the Malaysian market.

The company has long supplied condoms to government-funded programs for AIDS prevention and family planning. That segment of the business took a hit last year after the Trump administration cut funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development, which supported condom distribution initiatives in foreign countries.

Still, Mr. Goh, who has been the company chief executive for more than a decade, said that the company has seen demand for condoms rise this year, including in developing countries, and he warned of possible panic buying among consumers if supplies run low and the Iran war drags on.

“Everyone hopes that this ends fast and swiftly,” he said.