A global shortage of condoms is looming, the world’s biggest producer has said, after COVID-19 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 because of a lockdown imposed by the government to halt the spread of the virus.

The CEO, Goh Miah Kiat, said “We are going to see a global shortage of condoms everywhere, which is going to be scary,” he said.

“My concern is that for a lot of humanitarian programmes … in Africa, the shortage will not just be two weeks or a month. That shortage can run into months.”

“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.”