Fears of a global condom shortage are growing after the world's largest producer was forced to shut all of its factories due to coronavirus.
Malaysia's Karex Bhd makes one in every five condoms produced worldwide. But after a full lockdown was imposed in Malaysia 10 days ago due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the firm hasn't made a single condom.
That already leaves a shortfall of 100 million condoms. The condoms are normally marketed internationally by such major brands as Durex, supplied to state healthcare systems such as the NHS, or distributed by aid programmes such as the UN Population Fund. "We are going to see a global shortage of condoms everywhere, which is going to be scary," Karex chief executive Goh Miah Kiat said. "My concern