COVID-19: Condom scarcity looms as demands increase

The world’s biggest maker of condoms, Karex Berhad, has warned of a global shortage as supply falls by almost 50 per cent.

The manufacturer also disclosed that its stockpile is set to last for just another two months.

According to Forbes, Karex produces five billion condoms a year, accounting for roughly 15 per cent of the world market.

Group Chief Executive Officer at Malaysia-based Karex Berhad, Goh Miah Kiat, revealed this to Bloomberg in an interview.

Kiat also warned that condoms could get a lot more expensive as a result.

The CEO said demands have been growing at ‘double digits’ as governments around the world issued stay-at-home notices and many people abstain from having children due to the uncertain future.

“I would definitely say this is an unprecedented stage; we have never seen such a disruption.

“We are still paying all our workers’ full salaries, but workers only come in half the time, so, generally, there will be a cost increase,” he added.

The company said it only restarted its factories on Friday after a week-long closure, working with just half its workforce to comply with a lockdown that Malaysia imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The company said condoms are mainly made in China and India, which are both heavily impacted by the pandemic.