One of the world's largest condom manufacturers, Malaysian company Karex Bhd, has announced that it is preparing to raise prices by 20% to 30% if the supply crisis worsens due to tensions and war in Iran. According to the company's CEO, Goh Miah Kiat, the situation in global markets has become so delicate that the company has no choice but to pass the costs on to customers. In other words, even personal protection is becoming "premium."
Karex, which produces over 5 billion condoms annually and supplies well-known brands such as Durex and Trojan, as well as health systems and UN programs, is facing a sharp increase in demand. Ironically, demand has risen by about 30%, but supply "reins" have also tightened.
The main issues are linked to rising transportation costs and delays in the global supply chain, where products often remain "stuck at sea" longer than usual. Shipments that previously took about a month are now taking nearly two months to reach their destination. According to the company, raw materials such as synthetic rubber, nitrile, and packaging materials have also become significantly more expensive, making the production of "global protection" even costlier. Meanwhile, Karex says it currently has reserves for several months but warns that the situation could worsen if disruptions in transportation and supply continue.