The price of rubber has skyrocketed following the launch of the US and Israeli Operation Epic Fury.

20:03, Tue, Apr 21, 2026 Updated: 20:35, Tue, Apr 21, 2026

Condoms

Karex is one of the the largest producers of condoms in the world (Image: Getty)

The world’s biggest producer of condoms is set to raise prices by almost a third, adding to the list of companies and lines of production being impacted by the war in Iran and disruption in the Middle East. Karex, which supplies condoms to major brands including Durex and Trojan, said disruption linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has already forced it to plan price increases of between 20% and 30%.

The company warned prices could climb even higher if the conflict in the Middle East continues and the key trade route remains blocked. Most condoms are made from latex, a form of rubber produced using petrochemicals linked to Middle East supply chains. Rubber prices have already jumped by 8.5% in the past month, driven by rising oil prices. Speaking to Reuters, Goh Miah Kiat, Karex’s chief executive, said the company had “no choice” but to pass the higher costs on to customers. He added:“The situation is definitely very fragile, prices are expensive,". The Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been shut for two months and remains subject to a blockade by the US Navy, is expected to heap even more pressure on consumer goods that rely on petrochemicals.

Durex Extra Safe

Durex condoms could rise in price as the Iran war hits global supply chains (Image: Newscast/Universal Images Group via Getty Images))

Karex, which sells five billion condoms a year, said costs had increased right across its supply chain.

Packaging materials and lubricants, including silicone oil and aluminium foil, have also become more expensive.

Kiat told Reuters that, alongside higher costs for manufacturing and packaging condoms, this has added to delays in shipping.

Mr Kiat said Karex had enough condoms stockpiled to meet demand over the next few months and planned to increase output to cope with demand triggered by US government cuts to foreign aid.

Last year, Donald Trump’s administration slashed funding for the US Agency for International Development by 92%, equal to $54bn (£43bn). It said the cuts were part of an “America First review of spending”.

Strait Of Hormuz map

“The Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of fears over global oil supplies and rising shipping co (Image: Getty)

Mr Kiat said demand for condoms had surged by 30% this year and warned shortages could emerge because of shipping disruption.

The Malaysian company’s shipments to Europe and the US are now taking close to two months to arrive - twice as long as before Mr Trump’s war in Iran.

He added: “We’re seeing a lot more condoms actually sitting on vessels that have not ⁠arrived ​at their destination but are highly required ”.

While soaring gas prices since the Iran war have put oil and fuel in the spotlight, economists fear the pain could soon spread much further.

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Experts have warned that rising costs could force consumers to cut back spending, while fears over oil shortages threaten to hit production across the world.

Asia is expected to be among the hardest hit because the region relies heavily on oil and gas imports from the Middle East, with countries such as Malaysia depending on supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz.