Srinagar – Global bedroom bills are getting hotter—and not in a fun way. Malaysian condom giant Karex is jacking up prices by as much as 30%, pointing the finger squarely at turmoil around the Strait of Hormuz.
CEO Goh Miah Kiat says spiralling costs for latex, lubricants, and packaging—and sky-high freight charges—have left the company with “no choice” but to pass the heat on to consumers. From condoms to catheters, nothing escapes the squeeze.
Behind the scenes, the crisis is biting hard. The ongoing conflict involving Iran is choking vital petrochemical supplies, sending prices of key materials like silicone oil and nitrile latex through the roof. Shipping delays have doubled delivery times, leaving global stockpiles dangerously low.
But here’s the kicker: as prices rise, demand is exploding. Karex—producer of over 5 billion condoms a year for brands like Durex and Trojan—says usage is up 30%, as economic uncertainty pushes people to play it safe.
Aid cuts from the United States Agency for International Development have only made things worse, forcing health groups into the commercial market and fuelling a global scramble for supplies.
Bottom line? War and economic fear are driving a bizarre boom—where protection is pricier, scarcer, and more in demand than ever.
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