Karex Bhd to Raise Condom Prices 20-30% on Iran War Costs

Malaysia's Karex Bhd, the world's largest condom producer, announced plans on Tuesday to raise prices by 20 to 30 percent, citing supply chain disruptions from the ongoing war in Iran that have driven up raw material costs and strained global demand.

The Kuala Lumpur-based company, which manufactures more than 5 billion condoms each year, supplies major brands such as Durex and Trojan, as well as public health systems including Britain's National Health Service and United Nations aid programs. Chief Executive Officer Goh Miah Kiat told reporters that the price hikes are necessary to offset escalating expenses for key inputs like synthetic rubber, nitrile, packaging materials, aluminum foils and silicone oil used in lubricants. "The situation is definitely very fragile, prices are expensive," Goh said. "We have no choice but to transfer the costs right now to the customers."

The conflict, which began in late February, has disrupted energy and petrochemical supplies from the Middle East, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route between the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf. This has led to higher freight costs and delays, with shipments to Europe...