Russians are buying up condoms in bulk
Demand for condoms has surged in Russia this spring, already leading to local shortages of certain items, particularly large packs.
This was reported by the Telegram channel Shot, citing market participants and retailers.
According to one source, imported packs containing 10 to 100 units almost completely disappeared from warehouses in March. Retailers note that customers are actively stocking up on products “for the long term”—for a year or even a year and a half—fearing further price increases and supply disruptions.
Price increases are already being recorded. In the online segment, sales in monetary terms rose by 16% in the first quarter, and in volume terms by 5% year-over-year.
At the same time, according to Kommersant, Russian pharmacies sold 4.09 million packs of condoms worth 1.95 billion rubles in January–March 2026. The average price rose by 13.2% to 477 rubles per package, and in some chains exceeded 500 rubles in April.
Market participants predict further price increases—up to 20% over the course of the year. Among the reasons cited are disruptions in latex supplies from Malaysia and Thailand, as well as logistical difficulties amid the war in Iran.
After three years of unexpected economic growth, Russia is facing a sudden slowdown—war costs, inflation, and falling oil prices have begun to weigh on an economy that until recently seemed resilient to sanctions.
Consumer lending in Russia has fallen to a six-year low.
