Condom maker may raise prices because of Iran war
By David Goldman
Published on April 21, 2026.
Karex CEO Goh Miah Kiat has warned that the company may be forced to raise prices by at least 20% to 30%, depending on the length of the disruption caused by the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz. The company, which produces condoms, personal lubricants, gloves, medical catheters and probe covers, has been impacted by the war, cutting off some materials used in condom production. Alongside higher costs for manufacturing and packaging condoms, there are delays in shipping and more condoms sitting on vessels that have not yet arrived at their destination. The war has also affected production of petroleum byproducts used to make plastics and other materials, including naphtha, which is used for packaging materials, and silicon oil and ammonia, which are key ingredients in condom manufacturing.
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