New Delhi: Supply-chain disruptions due to the West Asia crisis may now lead to a problem in Indian bedrooms. The latest addition to the long list of items becoming costly are condoms.
Goh Miah Kiat, CEO of Malaysia-based condom maker Karex, said that they may hike the prices of condoms by 20-30 per cent. Karex is the largest manufacturer of condoms and supplies to brands such as Durex and Trojan. It is also a supplier to national health systems such as the UK’s NHS and international programmes run by the United Nations.
A combination of rising prices of raw materials such as synthetic rubber and ammonia and disruption in the supply of the end product has led to this potential measure. What has worsened the situation is a 30-per cent rise in the demand for condoms this year.
The disruption may impact firms such as Durex in India, which has an approximate market share of 14.9 per cent.
Durex dominates the premium condom segment in India, boasting of celebrity brand ambassadors such as Ranveer Singh and Abhay Deol. According to a report by ResearchAndMarkets.com, the Indian Condom Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.80 per cent, touching $685.11 million by 2030, with a noticeable shift toward premium brands.
Meme treatment
The news of an anticipated price hike of the contraceptive was dealt with a dose of humour on social media. Some said it is a new problem being ‘conceived’ because of Trump.
“What your saying is Trump found a way to get the birth rate up,” wrote another user,” indirectly referring to countries and regions with declining birth rates.
Many users blamed Trump for the upcoming “baby boom”.
“Make love, not war’ they say…Even that’s getting expensive now,” quipped a person on X.
Another commented how inflation has hit “where it hurts the most”.
“Time to buy stocks in vasectomy clinics,” wrote a user on Reddit.
Shubhanker Tripathi is a TPSJ alum, currently interning with ThePrint.