Cost of loving disaster – World dealing with condom scarcity as a result of Strait of Hormuz closure disaster
Manufacturers expected to increase the price of condoms by as much as 30% in response to shipping disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict
Condoms made by the world’s largest manufacturer are soaring in price due to the Iran war.(Image: Getty Images)
Condoms made by the world’s largest manufacturer are soaring in price due to the Iran war.
Karex is expected to increase the price of johnnies by as much as 30% in response to shipping disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.
The Malaysian firm, which supplies Durex, Trojan and the NHS, produces 5 billion condoms a year.
But customers have been running low on supplies because of rising shipping costs due to the Strait of Hormuz closure.
The company’s chief executive Goh Miah Kiat said: “The situation is definitely very fragile, prices are expensive.
“We have no choice but to transfer the costs right now to the customers.”
He added that the company has enough supplies to last a few months.
Since the conflict began in late February, Karex has seen costs increase for raw materials that pass through the Strait of Hormuz, everything from synthetic rubber and nitrile used in manufacturing condoms to packaging materials and lubricants such as aluminium foils and silicone oil.
The time for shipments to arrive in the US and Europe has doubled to two months.
Iran continues to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and cargo waterway, while the US has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ships in the area.
The shortage is the second setback to the world’s condom supply since US President Donald Trump took office in January last year.
His cuts to foreign aid have limited condom supplies to several countries, mainly in Africa where the contraceptives have been essential to curbing an HIV epidemic.
The war has helped to trigger a surge in air fares, with the lowest-priced economy tickets costing 24% more on average than they did a year ago, according to new research.
Meanwhile, disruption to shipments through the Gulf has led to higher fertiliser prices and a shortage of helium, which is used to make computer chips.
The bottled water industry is also under pressure as manufacturers struggle to get hold of raw materials.
Earlier this month, the United Nations warned that sugar, dairy and fruit prices will climb due to the rising cost of transport.
The status of peace talks between the US and Iran remained unclear on Wednesday after President Donald Trump said he will extend a ceasefire between the two countries until negotiations have progressed.
