Experts warn a condom price hike in Nigeria could worsen HIV risks and shortages amid global supply disruptions

Health experts have warned that Nigeria could face a sharp rise in condom prices and possible shortages if the ongoing Middle East crisis continues to disrupt global oil supply chains and manufacturing logistics.

Also read: Winter Olympics Village Runs Out of Condoms as 1936 Berlin T-Shirts Sell Out

Stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector said the conflict involving the United States and Iran was already affecting the supply of petrochemical-based raw materials used in condom production, increasing manufacturing and shipping costs globally.

The experts noted that because Nigeria relies heavily on imported condoms, prolonged disruptions could trigger a severe condom price hike in Nigeria and reduce access to essential sexual health products.

Condoms are produced using petrochemical-derived materials such as synthetic rubber, ammonia and silicone lubricants, all of which have become more expensive amid rising oil prices and shipping instability linked to the conflict.

The concerns followed an announcement by Karex, the world’s largest condom manufacturer, that it could raise prices by up to 30 per cent or more if supply disruptions persist.

Karex, based in Malaysia, manufactures over five billion condoms annually and supplies major brands including Durex and Trojan.

Speaking to Bloomberg, Karex Chief Executive Goh Miah Kiat said the company had experienced a steep increase in production costs since the conflict escalated.

According to him, global demand for condoms has increased by about 30 per cent this year, while freight costs and shipping delays have worsened supply shortages.

The conflict, which reportedly entered its 72nd day, has intensified global concerns over supply chain disruptions following military confrontations and maritime tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.

Reacting to the development, the National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Ambrose Ezeh, warned that disruptions in production and transportation would inevitably push up prices.

“If disruption in movement, shipment, and all that leads to the scarcity of that particular product, the price of condoms will go up because people will now make do with the small stock they have,” Ezeh said.

He added that shortages of premium products such as Durex could force consumers to switch to more affordable brands, potentially increasing demand and prices across the market.

Nigeria already faces a significant gap in condom access.

A 2021 report by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS and NOI Polls estimated that Nigerians consume about 587 million condoms annually.

The report stated that the country requires at least 1.15 billion condoms yearly to achieve 90 per cent coverage and effectively reduce sexually transmitted infections nationwide.

Former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Olumide Akintayo, warned that rising condom prices could worsen public health challenges, including HIV transmission, sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies.

“Condoms help us contain the challenges of population explosion and help a great deal in reducing sexually transmitted infections, including HIV,” Akintayo said.

He warned that unaffordable condoms could result in more unprotected sex and increased pressure on Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Also speaking, former Vice Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Olumide Obube, described condoms as one of the most effective and affordable public health tools.

“If condoms become out of reach for average Nigerians, the country may pay later through higher HIV transmission, more STIs, unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and increased pressure on an already stretched health system,” Obube said.

He urged Nigeria to prioritise local condom production as a strategic public health investment rather than relying heavily on imported supplies and donor-funded procurement.

The World Health Organization has consistently maintained that condoms remain highly effective in preventing sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, as well as unintended pregnancies when used correctly and consistently.

According to the WHO, an estimated 374 million new cases of curable sexually transmitted infections were recorded globally in 2020 among adults aged 15 to 49.

Also read: Native Doctor in Anambra Caught Using Used Condoms for Charms

The agency added that contraceptives, including condoms, help prevent more than 300 million unintended pregnancies worldwide every year.