Condom Prices to Rise by 30% as a Result of Iran War, Says CEO of World's Largest Manufacturer

Source: People

Published on April 22, 2026 07:27AM EDT


One of the world's leading condom brands is increasing its product prices considerably after having supply disruptions amid the Iran war.

Malaysian condom brand Karex plans to raise its prices by up to 30%, and possibly further, as the company has seen a surge in demand, rising shipping costs and delays, Karex CEO Goh Miah Kiat told Reuters in an interview published April 21. "The situation is definitely very fragile, prices are expensive,” said Kiat, 48. “We ​have no choice but to transfer the costs right now to ⁠the customers.”

Since the Iran war began on Feb. 28, there have been cost increases for Karex across all materials and chemicals used in condom production, such as synthetic rubber, nitrile and lubricants. The price of packaging materials, including aluminum foils and silicone oil, has also risen, according to Kiat, per Reuters.

The conflict has also made it difficult for the company to secure raw materials for condoms and other products, such as packaging materials, as transporting petrochemicals and energy from the Middle East is strained per the outlet. This has also created high demand, putting increasing pressure on the company.

Read more: https://people.com/condom-prices-to-rise-due-to-iran-war-says-ceo-of-worlds-top-manufacturer-karex-11955543