Condom shortage looms after coronavirus lockdown shuts world's top producer

[left-of-center2012]

A global shortage of condoms is looming, the world's biggest producer said, after a coronavirus lockdown forced it to shut down production. Malaysia's Karex Bhd makes one in every five condoms globally. It has not produced a single condom from its three Malaysian factories for more than a week due to a lockdown imposed by the government to halt the spread of the virus.

That's already a shortfall of 100 million condoms, normally marketed internationally by brands such as Durex, supplied to state healthcare systems such as Britain's NHS or distributed by aid programmes such as the UN Population Fund.

The other major condom-producing countries are China, where the coronavirus originated and led to widespread factory shutdowns, and India and Thailand, which are seeing infections spiking only now.

"The good thing is that the demand for condoms is still very strong because like it or not, it's still an essential to have," Goh said. "Given that at this point in time people are probably not planning to have children. It's not the time, with so much uncertainty."

https://news.trust.org/item/20200327110340-jfjpz

[Goodheart]

1. Swell.

That's just what the world needs right now... replacement people.

[lagomorph777]

3. No, don't swell...

...without your peepee's PPE on.

[Miigwech]

2. Oh no.

[Throck]

4. Bigger trouble when some run out of batteries.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

5. That and isolation should produce some.......results.

KY....... ..... ..... .... ... ..... ..... ... ...

[SWBTATTReg]

6. There are already some predictions (probably on DU too) that the birth rate will jump up too. NT

[KentuckyWoman]

7. Cooped up with no raincoats.

70 years from now some sweet 20 yr old will roll her eyes and say, OK Boomer.