Middle East crisis threatens supply of condoms and other contraceptive devices

The ongoing Middle East crisis has disrupted global supply chains, directly impacting India’s Rs 8,170 crore condom industry. With shortages of silicone oil and ammonia, manufacturers face rising costs and potential price hikes of up to 50 percent for contraceptives.

Hyderabad: The escalating crisis in the Middle East has moved beyond geopolitical tensions and literally into a ‘bedroom crisis’ in India and other countries, as the manufacturing supply chain for condoms and other essential contraceptives takes a hit.

While the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has already announced significant delays of life saving reproductive health supplies for women and girls in multiple Asian countries, manufacturers and public health experts here have started to raise alarm bells over non-availability and shortages of raw materials.

---

According to multiple reports, the Indian condom industry, a massive Rs 8,170 crore sector, is at present literally gasping for air. Major manufacturers are struggling as the conflict has tightened the supply of critical raw materials.

Essential components like silicone oil, used as a lubricant, and ammonia, used to stabilize raw latex, are becoming increasingly scarce. Reports have indicated that with the Centre prioritising petrochemical resources towards national energy security, the production of synthetic contraceptive devices and packaging is under direct threat.

For the average consumer, in the coming days, the reality could be a sharp increase in prices of contraceptive devices by up to 50 percent. The crisis extends beyond condoms; manufacturers of medical disposables and other reproductive health devices have seen the cost of plastics jump by 50 percent and packaging costs rise by 20 percent.

To mitigate these rising costs, medical device manufacturers have formally approached the government seeking temporary customs duty relief on imported raw materials.

Just a few days ago, the UNFPA had warned that over 1.2 million condoms intended for aid are currently stuck in transit, delayed by nearly a month as ships reroute around Africa to avoid the Suez Canal. Globally, this disruption is estimated to deprive over 2,600 women and girls from access to contraceptive services.