India is facing a growing condom shortage after months of the U.S.-Iran war, raising concerns among health advocates about the potential impact on HIV prevention efforts, especially within the country’s LGBTQ community. Disruptions in maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz have strained supplies of petrochemicals and industrial lubricants used in condom manufacturing. Industry experts say shortages of silicone oil and rising ammonia costs have sharply increased production expenses. Some manufacturers and retailers report condom prices have risen more than 30 % percent.
India’s condom industry is valued at nearly $1 billion and operates on a high-volume, low-margin model designed to keep products affordable for the country’s population of more than 1.4 billion people. According to India’s Health Ministry, the country is home to an estimated 2.5 million people living with HIV — the second-largest HIV-positive population in the world. The ministry reported that 5.4 percent of HIV cases in 2024-2025 involved transmission between men who have sex with men. LGBTQ activist Ankit Bhuptani warned the shortage could reverse years of progress in HIV prevention. Harish Iyer, another LGBTQ activist, urged the government to classify condoms as an essential commodity and expand free distribution through programs like the Nirodh (Nee-row-dh) Scheme.
