A Malaysian company’s announcement about upcoming condom price increases has created a social media frenzy in China, with discussions about the topic reaching more than 60 million viewers by Thursday.
The buzz started when Goh Miah Kiat, head of Malaysian condom manufacturer Karex Bhd, announced plans to increase prices between 20% and 30%. He warned costs could climb even higher if supply chain problems related to the Iran conflict continue.
Chinese users flocked to Weibo, the country’s version of X, to discuss how global conflicts are now affecting intimate aspects of daily life. The hashtag about rising condom costs quickly went viral.
Despite the price increases, many social media users said the higher costs wouldn’t stop them from purchasing contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Some encouraged others to buy in bulk before prices rise.
“A few dozen yuan for a condom is a hundred times more cost-effective than raising a child at a million yuan,” said one user.
“From now on, not only will we have to be frugal, but we’ll also have to stock up on condoms in advance,” said another.
The timing of these discussions is notable as Chinese officials are implementing various policies to encourage higher birth rates in response to the country’s aging population and declining fertility rates. Birth rates reached historic lows last year.
Karex manufactures more than 5 billion condoms each year and supplies major brands including Durex and Trojan.
Higher condom costs would compound existing increases in family planning expenses for Chinese consumers. Earlier this year, the government ended a 30-year tax exemption on birth control products and medications. Contraceptives now face a 13% value-added tax, the standard rate for most consumer items.
Several condom manufacturers that sell products in China, including Reckitt, LifeStyles, Ansell, and Renfu, have not yet responded to requests for comment about potential price changes.
