DKT eyes 30M condom sales in 2015

MANILA, Philippines – The maker of Trust condoms targets to sell 30 million pieces in 2015 in the Philippines to recover from a “slightly” thin yield last year.

Emmanuel Alfonso, product manager of DKT Philippines, said the company saw a decline in condom sales in 2014, which was attributed to a pullout of its other under-performing condom brands.

Alfonso was referring to the pullout of flavored condoms under the brand Lick, which did not gain the market’s attention because they were “naughty bordering on raunchiness,” Alfonso admitted.

Lick condoms, marketed as “lick-able” and “tasty,” were removed from the market in 2013,  or 3 years after it was introduced in the country.

“[After examining it], we thought it was adding to the stigma rather than helping us,” he said.

Condom sales declined by at least 10% in 2014, said Alfonso. “Starting 2014, we already knew that there will be a decline,” he told Rappler in a Skype interview.

DKT Philippines distributes two condom brands: Trust and Premiere condoms.

Each brand comes in variants, ranging from unscented condoms to those that bear dots and manufactured to enhance sexual intercourse.

Health protection over profit

While the Philippine unit of DKT International is banking on contraceptives sales, it also aims to raise awareness of their use among Filipinos through public campaigns.

The awareness campaign’s main obstacle is the Roman Catholic Church, which is opposed to the use of artificial contraceptives. The campaign however is reinforced by the Reproductive Health law, which was passed under the Aquino administration.

DKT Philippines introduced Trust condoms in the country in 1991, and has sold over 100 million pieces since then.

But in 2013, the company booked total comprehensive income at P7.01 million ($158,206.10), a recovery from a negative P37.76 million ($853,286.99) in 2012, based on their disclosure to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Its other products include low-dose oral contraceptives, injectable contraceptives, and intrauterine devices.

On Valentine’s Day, DKT Philippines Incorporated gave away 40,000 condoms along stalls selling bouquets of red roses, balloons, and chocolates. – Rappler.com


US$1 = P44.25