Durex plays down talk of condom shortage

DUREX gave reassurances yesterday that condom supplies to the UK were not under threat, even though a legal row with a major Indian manufacturer remains unresolved.

TTK Lig, which is thought to produce more than half of Durex's condoms, halted its supply in May following a dispute with parent company Reckitt Benckiser over pricing and distribution rights.

Durex said there were still "plenty" of its condoms available despite a City analyst warning that retail supplies were waning and after a court bid to force TTK to resume supply failed.

The statement from Durex came as Reckitt reported a 14 per cent increase in adjusted operating profit to 1.1 billion in the six months to June.

The NHS also released a statement to reassure customers that it will not be affected and has sourced alternative suppliers.

It said: "NHS Supply Chain regrets to inform customers that Reckitt Benckiser are currently experiencing manufacturing problems on a number of Durex branded condoms. NHS Supply Chain procurement has listed suitable alternative products to ensure disruption to your services is kept to a minimum."

Alex Smith, an analyst at Citigroup, said industry sources suggested the Indian supply disruption was being felt in the UK at retailer level.

Smith said Mates producer Ansell, the world's second-largest condom company, is set to make a windfall as it picks up the majority of Durex's lost sales.

However, a spokesman for Durex today dismissed the claims. He said: "There is still plenty of Durex available."