Iran war may drive up contraceptive prices: Experts warn

Global prices of contraceptives could rise by up to 20–30 per cent as the Iran conflict disrupts supply chains and drives up production costs, industry leaders have warned.

Karex Berhad CEO Goh Miah Kiat told Reuters that ongoing tensions and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have significantly affected the availability of key raw materials used in condom manufacturing.

“The situation is very fragile. Production costs have surged, leaving little option but to pass on the additional burden to consumers,” he said.

Malaysia-based Karex, one of the world’s largest condom manufacturers, produces brands such as ONE, Trustex, Karex and Pasante, with an annual capacity exceeding five billion units exported to over 130 countries.

The company said rising costs are being driven by increased prices of latex, packaging materials, lubricants and petrochemical inputs, alongside shipping delays that have left consignments stranded at sea.

Global Protection Corp CEO Davin Wedel told CNN that while the company is not immediately passing on higher costs to consumers, prolonged disruption could force a price hike.

He warned that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could not only increase costs but also lead to shortages due to constrained access to essential raw materials.

Industry data indicate sharp price increases in key inputs since the conflict began, including packaging materials (20–30%), latex (30%), lubricants (25%), and nitrile used in non-latex condoms (up to 100%).

Analysts say the impact extends beyond energy markets, as petroleum-based inputs such as plastics, silicone oil and ammonia—critical to contraceptive production—face supply pressure.

KPMG global energy head Angie Gildea noted that disruptions in crude oil and petrochemical feedstock supplies are compounding the crisis, particularly for Asian manufacturing hubs dependent on Middle Eastern imports.

Experts also warn that energy shortages in parts of Southeast Asia, including fuel rationing in countries like Myanmar and Cambodia, could further disrupt production by affecting worker mobility and factory operations.

With demand remaining steady, prolonged instability risks tightening global supply and pushing prices higher in the coming months.