Demand for condoms has skyrocketed in Russia amid fears of sharp price increases and shortages triggered by Western sanctions.
This is despite dominant British company Reckitt - maker of Durex and other brands - continuing to trade in the country even while slamming the war in Ukraine as “unconscionable”.
The country’s largest online retailer Wildberries saw condom sales jump 170 per cent in the first two weeks of March compared with last year.
Major pharmacy chain 36.6 reported a 26 per cent rise in sales.
Overall, there has been a 32 per cent boost in the value of chemist condom purchases compared with a year ago.
And supermarkets said their sales were up 30 per cent, reported RBC.
Yesenia Shamonina, co-owner of the Prezervativnaya sex shop, said: “People are buying for the future, despite the fact that we were forced to raise prices.”
Costs to the consumer had risen by up to 50 per cent depending on the brand, she said.
Outlets are forced to pass on price increases caused by the sinking value of the Russian rouble against key Western currencies.
This was due to collapsing confidence in Vladimir Putin's economy after he launched the invasion of Ukraine.
An industry source said that while Latex comes from countries which are not applying sanctions, they must buy in Western currencies which are now far more expensive .
The rush on condoms was so great that Putin’s Ministry of Industry and Trade was forced to issue a denial that there would be long term problems.
“A shortage of this product is not predicted,” insisted officials.
“The largest producing countries - Thailand, India, South Korea, and China - have not stopped deliveries of products to the Russian Federation.”
Traditionally, Russia imports 600 million condoms a year, and produces 100 million.
Reckitt employs around 1,300 people in Russia and makes in the region of £400 million annually in this market.
“As the situation continues to evolve, we will continue to take action and respond, always acting with the appropriate duty of care to our employees,” said the company in a statement.
Sexologist Yevgeny Kalgavchuk urged Russians to use “good condoms” from “friendly countries” rather than those made in Western markets imposing sanctions.
Business expert Pavel Spichakov said that 95 per cent of the condom market in Russia is owned by foreign companies.
“An English company Reckitt, which produces the brands Durex, Contex, Hussar and others, accounts for over 60 per cent of it,” he said.
He did not expect Reckitt to leave despite the walkout of Russia by other Western firms.
“There is no hope that the company will voluntarily leave the Russian market,” he said.
But if they were forced out, Russia could boost its own production, he said.
