Iran War Impacts Supply Chain, World's Largest Condom Manufacturer Plans 20-30% Price Hike
Karex Bhd, the world's largest condom manufacturer based in Malaysia, plans to increase condom prices by 20% to 30% due to supply chain disruptions caused by the Iran war. Soaring shipping costs and freight delays have led to lower-than-normal inventory levels for many clients, while demand for condoms has significantly risen.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 17:50
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Middle East War Key News
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Kuala Lumpur, 22nd, comprehensive foreign report) The CEO of Karex Bhd, a Malaysian company and the world's largest condom manufacturer, stated that it plans to increase condom prices by 20% to 30%, and the increase could be even greater if the Iran war continues to disrupt the supply chain.
Goh Miah Kiat, CEO of Karex Bhd, told Reuters that soaring shipping costs and freight delays have led to lower-than-normal inventory levels for many clients, and Karex Bhd has seen a significant increase in condom demand.
"The current situation is extremely fragile, with high prices... we now have no choice but to pass on the costs to our customers," Goh Miah Kiat said.
Karex Bhd produces over 5 billion condoms annually and is a supplier to well-known brands such as Durex and Trojan, as well as public healthcare systems like the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and global aid programs promoted by the United Nations.
Goh Miah Kiat mentioned that since the Middle East conflict erupted at the end of February, Karex Bhd has faced rising costs for everything from synthetic rubber and nitrile, which are needed to produce condoms, to packaging and lubricating materials such as aluminum foil and silicone oil.
He stated that Karex Bhd currently has several months of inventory and is trying to expand production capacity to meet the growing demand. Significant cuts in international aid budgets, especially after the US Agency for International Development (USAID) cut spending last year, have led to a significant decline in global condom inventories.
Goh Miah Kiat noted that condom demand has increased by about 30% this year, and shipping disruptions have exacerbated the shortage. Freight times for Karex Bhd's products to Europe and the United States, which used to take one month, now take nearly two months.
"We see many condoms actually still stuck in transit, not yet delivered to their destinations, but they are urgently needed locally," he added, explaining that many developing countries have insufficient inventory because it takes a long time for products to arrive. (Compiler: Hong Peiying) 1150422
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Kuala Lumpur, 22nd, comprehensive foreign report) The CEO of Karex Bhd, a Malaysian company and the world's largest condom manufacturer, stated that it plans to increase condom prices by 20% to 30%, and the increase could be even greater if the Iran war continues to disrupt the supply chain.
Goh Miah Kiat, CEO of Karex Bhd, told Reuters that soaring shipping costs and freight delays have led to lower-than-normal inventory levels for many clients, and Karex Bhd has seen a significant increase in condom demand.
"The current situation is extremely fragile, with high prices... we now have no choice but to pass on the costs to our customers," Goh Miah Kiat said.
Karex Bhd produces over 5 billion condoms annually and is a supplier to well-known brands such as Durex and Trojan, as well as public healthcare systems like the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and global aid programs promoted by the United Nations.
Goh Miah Kiat mentioned that since the Middle East conflict erupted at the end of February, Karex Bhd has faced rising costs for everything from synthetic rubber and nitrile, which are needed to produce condoms, to packaging and lubricating materials such as aluminum foil and silicone oil.
He stated that Karex Bhd currently has several months of inventory and is trying to expand production capacity to meet the growing demand. Significant cuts in international aid budgets, especially after the US Agency for International Development (USAID) cut spending last year, have led to a significant decline in global condom inventories.
Goh Miah Kiat noted that condom demand has increased by about 30% this year, and shipping disruptions have exacerbated the shortage. Freight times for Karex Bhd's products to Europe and the United States, which used to take one month, now take nearly two months.
"We see many condoms actually still stuck in transit, not yet delivered to their destinations, but they are urgently needed locally," he added, explaining that many developing countries have insufficient inventory because it takes a long time for products to arrive. (Compiler: Hong Peiying) 1150422
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news in real-time.
The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.