World’s largest condom maker warns of up to 30% price hike due to US-Iran war

Karex, the world's largest condom manufacturer, said it expects to raise prices by 30% or more as the ongoing war involving Iran continues to disrupt supply chains and increase production costs across its operations.

The Malaysian firm, which produces more than five billion condoms annually for brands including Durex and Trojan, said the disruption to global petrochemical supply chains has tightened access to key inputs such as ammonia, used in latex preservation, and silicone-based lubricants, says the BBC.

Karex chief executive Goh Miah Kiat said production costs have "risen sharply" since the start of the conflict and warned the company may increase prices by "30% or possibly more" if disruptions persist.

He also pointed to shifting consumer behaviour amid economic uncertainty. Goh said, "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," adding, "If you have a baby right now, you'll have one more mouth to feed," in explaining the rise in demand.

Karex said global demand for condoms has increased by around 30% this year, even as logistics costs and raw material prices have climbed due to wider regional instability. The company linked part of the disruption to constraints in global shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows.

The broader economic impact of the conflict has extended beyond the contraceptive industry. The United Nations warned that "sugar, dairy and fruit prices will climb" as transport costs rise due to rerouted shipping and higher fuel expenses. Airfares have also increased, while shortages of helium and higher fertilizer costs have been reported across multiple markets.

On the geopolitical front, U.S. President Donald Trump said he will "extend a ceasefire between the two countries until negotiations have progressed," while maintaining that the United States will "continue to blockade Iran's ports" during the interim period.

Iranian officials have criticised the ongoing situation. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said the United States had shown a "lack of good faith" in negotiations. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei also raised concerns about "the US's naval blockade of its ports and the seizure of an Iranian vessel", saying these issues had contributed to uncertainty over whether Tehran would join further talks.

The developments come as diplomatic efforts continue alongside sustained economic pressure linked to the conflict, with global markets adjusting to higher transport and commodity costs.