2 min read- A Malaysian factory that produces one out of every five condoms in the world has had to halt production due to coronavirus.
- Malaysia has been on lockdown for a week, due to coronavirus, but the factory has been able to reopen with 50% of staff since they qualify as a critical industry.
- One week of production lost and working with only 50% of workers means there may be a shortage coming up.
Coronavirus's impact on the economy and day-to-day life here in the States is only beginning, but production shortfalls from exporters abroad mean we may feel the lasting effects of it even months from now. The Guardian reported on Friday that the world's largest producer of condoms, Karex Bhd, which makes one out of every five condoms, is nervous about a potential condom shortage since factories in Malaysia have been closed for lockdown for a week.
The factories have since been given an okay to work with 50% of staff, since they are considered a critical industry. Presumably they'll operate this way while the rest of the company remains on lockdown until April 14th, but even one week of total shutdown has already meant 100 million fewer condoms being produced. The company produces condoms for Durex, as well as for distribution among the UK's NHS and UN's Population Fund.
A company executive told The Guardian that he was particularly concerned about what the condom shortage could mean for humanitarian programs in Africa, as the shortage could turn even longer. Not only have the factories been closed for a week so they're already behind, but working with only 50% of staff means things will likely run slower as well.
There's no word yet on how or when the condom shortage could affect those of us in the U.S. Cosmopolitan has reached out for comment from a few large condom companies and are currently waiting to hear back.
[Update 4:51 PM:] Bruce Weiss, Trojan's Vice President of Marketing told Cosmo:
“Trojan is working fast and furious with our retail partners in supplying the increased demand for condoms. You can find Trojan condoms on shelves at retailers nationwide, and we currently do not foresee a change to this status.”
Carina Hsieh, MPH, is the deputy features editor of Women’s Health. She has more than a decade’s worth of experience working in media and has covered everything from beauty, fashion, travel, lifestyle, pets, to health.
She began her career as an intern in the fashion closet at Cosmopolitan where she worked her way up to Senior Sex & Relationships Editor. While covering women’s health there, she discovered her passion for health service journalism and took a break to get her Masters in Public Health. Post-grad school, she worked as a freelance writer and as The Daily Beast’s first Beauty, Health, and Wellness Reporter.
Carina is an alum of the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Yale School of Public Health. She and her French Bulldog, Bao Bao, split their time between Brooklyn and Connecticut. She enjoys reformer Pilates, (slow) running, and smelling the fancy toiletries in boutique fitness class locker rooms.
