Lysol Maker Reckitt to Hike Prices Due to Iran War — 2nd Update

By Aimee Look

Lysol maker Reckitt Benckiser is hiking some prices to offset higher input costs triggered by the war in Iran, its chief executive said.

Reckitt, which counts cold medication Mucinex and Durex condoms among its brands, plans to raise some prices in North America and Europe following similar increases in emerging markets, Chief Executive Kris Licht said in an interview.

The Iran war has ratcheted up costs across a range of inputs, largely stemming from higher prices for oil and natural gas. Since the conflict broke out in February, oil prices have tipped past $100 a barrel, prompting manufacturers of chemicals and plastics to pass on higher costs to customers.

U.K. consumer-goods group Reckitt hasn't been immune to higher input costs. It is planning moderate price raises in North America and Europe in some products across the rest of the year, alongside other productivity measures, to cope with cost inflation, Licht said.

The company already hiked prices in emerging markets earlier in the year, and that went well, he added.

At the same time, the full effects of cost inflation on all inputs are yet to be determined, Reckitt's CEO said. This level of input cost increases is manageable, he added.

"There's somewhat of a delay in some of these supply chains as the cost increases roll through," he added. "We should see it in the next three months."

Licht's comments come after Reckitt reported second-quarter results Wednesday, which also pointed to price increases in emerging markets. Out of the category's 9.4% like-for-like net revenue growth, 6.2% was from price increases.

Overall, revenue grew 4.7% on a like-for-like basis for the quarter, driven by price, which rose 3.2%.

Reckitt, which also houses brands like Strepsils and Lemsip, has seen its health portfolio be particularly insulated from price rises in general, Licht said. Volumes in the segment are little hit when prices are increased.

"We oftentimes are seeing very little response, if any, on volume when we take some pricing on the health side--which is a little bit different than the hygiene business," Licht said.

In North America, Reckitt tends to sell to a slightly less price-sensitive consumer as a premium-brand manufacturer, Licht said.

The company also said Wednesday it would buy back up to 500 million pounds ($664.5 million) in shares over the next twelve months.

Write to Aimee Look at aimee.look@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 29, 2026 07:09 ET (11:09 GMT)