Condom maker warns prices may rise due to Iran war supply disruptions

A Malaysia-based shaper of condoms said it whitethorn rise its prices owed to planetary proviso concatenation disruptions caused by the Iran war, according to media interviews with the company's main executive.

Karex CEO Goh Miah Kiat told Reuters connected Tuesday that the shaper faces a shortage of synthetic rubber, portion the company's input costs for immoderate materials successful its products person doubled. Rising freight costs and shipping delays person besides near the company's customers with leaner than accustomed stockpiles, Goh told the quality outlet.

Karex has been capable to fulfill its proviso needs truthful far, but if disruptions from the warfare proceed Karex could rise its prices by 20% to 30%, Goh told Reuters.

"The concern is decidedly precise fragile. Prices are expensive," helium said. "We person nary prime but to, you know, to transportation the outgo to customers."

Karex did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

The Iran warfare has led to a virtual stoppage successful ships traversing the strategically captious Strait of Hormuz, constraining the travel of planetary vigor supplies. That has affected a scope of petroleum-derived products, including plastics and rubber. Petrochemicals, which travel from lipid and earthy gas, are utilized successful much than 6,000 user products, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, including lipstick, tennis rackets and pajamas, to sanction a few.

Founded successful 1988 successful Johor, Malaysia, Karex bills itself arsenic the "world's largest condom maker." According to the company, Karex produces 5 cardinal condoms annually, which it exports to implicit 130 countries. The institution is simply a supplier to U.S.-based condom institution Trojan, arsenic good arsenic the British institution Durex, according to Reuters. 

The quality outlet said that Karex's shipments to destinations specified arsenic Europe ⁠and the U.S. usually instrumentality a period to arrive, but are present taking adjacent to 2 months owed to shipping disruptions. Amid the shortages, request for condoms has risen astir 30% this year, Goh told Reuters.

Edited by Alain Sherter