Demand for condoms has soared to Russia amid fears of sharp price increases and shortages caused by Western sanctions, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and war raging for the 26th day.
This is despite the fact that the dominant British company Reckitt – manufacturer of Durex and other brands – continues to trade in the country, even when it denounces the war in Ukraine as “unconscious”. According to the Mirror, the country’s largest online retailer Wildberries saw condom sales jumped 170% in the first two weeks of March compared to last year.
The large pharmacy chain 36.6 reported 26% increase in sales. Overall, it happened 32% increase in the value of condom purchases from pharmacies compared to a year ago.
Supermarkets also said their sales were up 30%, RBC reported.
The Russians are stockpiling despite price increases
Yesenia Shamonina, co-owner of the sex shop Prezervativnaya, said: “People are buying for the future, despite the fact that we had to raise prices.” The cost to the consumer had increased by up to 50% depending on the brand, he said.
Stores are forced to pass on price increases caused by the depreciation of the Russian ruble against major Western currencies. This is due to the collapse of confidence in Vladimir Putin’s economy after his invasion of Ukraine.
An industry source said that while Latex comes from countries that do not apply sanctions, they have to buy in Western currencies which are now much more expensive.
Official placement of the responsible ministry for condoms
The rush to buy condoms was so great that Putin’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce was forced to issue a rebuttal that there would be long-term problems. “There is no shortage of this product,” the officials insisted.
“The largest producing countries – Thailand, India, South Korea and China – have not stopped delivering products to the Russian Federation.” Russia traditionally imports 600 million condoms a year and produces 100 million.
Reckitt employs about 1,300 people in Russia and earns about 400 400 million a year in this market. “As the situation continues to evolve, we will continue to take action and respond, always acting with the proper duty of care to our employees,” the company said in a statement.
Condoms as a means of propaganda
Sexologist Yevgeny Kalgavchuk has urged Russians to use “good condoms” from “friendly countries” rather than those made in Western markets that impose sanctions.
Business expert Pavel Spichakov said that 95% of the condom market in Russia is owned by foreign companies. “A British company Reckitt, which produces the brands Durex, Contex, Hussar and others, owns more than 60 percent of it,” he said.
He did not expect Reckitt to leave despite the withdrawal of other Western companies from Russia.
Source: News Beast
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