Global War Threatens Condom Supplies

Nigeria’s public health landscape is facing an unexpected threat from the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, as experts warn of a looming hike in condom prices and potential nationwide shortages.

The 72-day conflict in the Middle East has sent shockwaves through global oil supply chains, disrupting the flow of petrochemical-based raw materials essential for manufacturing contraceptives.

From synthetic rubber to silicone lubricants, the rising cost of production and chaotic shipping routes are now threatening to make “safe sex” an expensive luxury for many Nigerians.

The alarm was first raised by Karex, the world’s largest condom manufacturer, which supplies global giants like Durex and Trojan.

The Malaysia-based company, which produces over five billion condoms annually, announced plans to hike prices by up to 30 percent if the war continues to squeeze supplies of vital materials like ammonia and silicone.

Karex CEO Goh Miah Kiat noted that while demand has surged by 30 percent this year, freight delays and the naval standoffs in the Gulf—specifically the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—have created a perfect storm for global shortages.

In Nigeria, the implications are particularly dire. Ambrose Ezeh, National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, warned that as high-end brands become scarce or unaffordable, demand will shift to cheaper alternatives, likely driving up their prices as well.

This market pressure comes at a time when Nigeria is already struggling to meet its health targets; currently, the country consumes about 587 million condoms annually, but health agencies estimate that 1.15 billion are needed to achieve 90 percent coverage and effectively curb the spread of infections.

The human cost of this supply chain crisis could be measured in a spike of unintended pregnancies and a heavier HIV burden. Former Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria President Olumide Akintayo warned that when protection becomes unaffordable, people don’t necessarily stop having sex they simply stop using protection.

This shift risks reversing years of progress in managing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and population growth. As the “Japa” syndrome already thins out the medical workforce, experts like Dr. Olumide Obube are now calling for a strategic shift toward local production to ensure that Nigeria’s health security is no longer at the mercy of foreign conflicts.