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Plant Extracts Industry Ushered In The Policy And Market Double Drive
2025-03-18
Recently, the plant extract industry has shown a booming trend driven by favorable policies, technological innovation and market demand. From the announcement of new food ingredients released by the National Health Commission, to the technological breakthroughs and export growth of enterprises, the industry is ushering in unprecedented opportunities.
Technological breakthrough: Supercritical extraction and molecular distillation lead the efficiency revolution
Technological innovation has become the core driving force for the development of the industry. Supercritical CO₂ extraction technology has shown significant advantages in plant extract preparation due to its high efficiency and environmentally friendly characteristics. The research of enterprises such as Love Green Technology shows that this technology can extract high-purity alkaloids from motherwort, and the extraction rate is more than 10 times higher than that of traditional methods. In addition, molecular distillation technology is widely used in the production of high value-added products, as it effectively retains the activity of heat-sensitive components through low-temperature separation.
Domestic companies such as Rhein Biologicals control upstream costs through the “company + base + farmers” model, while investing in synthetic biotechnology to further reduce dependence on raw materials. Its specialized stevia extraction plant will soon be put into operation, and its production capacity is expected to be among the world's top.
Market demand: full bloom in pharmaceutical, beauty and healthcare sectors
The natural and safe properties of plant extracts have led to a broadening of their application areas.
Pharmaceutical field: Studies have found that exosome-like nanoparticles of plant origin, such as ginger, garlic and aloe vera, can regulate intestinal flora and enhance immunotherapy. Crocus sativus extract is expected to be developed into a new type of anti-AIDS drug due to its potent inhibition of HIV-1 protease.
Beauty market: Magic Mirror data shows that from November 2023 to October 2024, online beauty and skincare market sales reached 316.5 billion yuan, and the proportion of natural ingredient products continues to increase. Chinese plant extracts are emerging in the international market with the advantage of“Chinese ingredients”.
Healthcare track: The market size of functional food for liver protection has increased by nearly 30%, and plant extracts such as mugwort and peony leaves are favored for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Data from cross-border e-commerce platforms show that cardiovascular and cerebrovascular nutritional products and oral beauty products account for 70% of imported health food.
Regional Competition: China's Accelerated Struggle for Global Voice
As for the global market, China's plant extract exports have ranked first in the world for many years. According to the prediction of China Research Institute of Science and Technology (CRISP), in 2025, the global market size will exceed 50 billion dollars, and the Chinese market will exceed 120 billion RMB. North America and Europe are still the main consumer markets, but China, with its rich plant resources and technological innovation, is gradually transforming from “raw material export” to “high value-added products”.
At the enterprise level, international giants such as Sabinsa and Naturex occupy the high-end market, while local enterprises such as Chenguang Bio and Rhein Biologicals have formed a competitive advantage in the middle and low-end market through technological upgrading. The trend of M&A and integration is obvious, and the concentration of the industry has further increased.
Future Prospects: Synthetic Biology and Green Technology as New Engines
With the maturity of synthetic biotechnology, the plant extract industry may usher in a new round of changes. Pioneering companies such as Rhein Biologicals have already made breakthroughs in this field, producing rare ingredients through gene editing technology and significantly reducing costs. In addition, environmentally friendly extraction technologies such as ultrasonic and microwave-assisted extraction will drive the industry in a green and sustainable direction.
The resonance of policy support, technology iteration and market demand is pushing the plant extract industry into the wind. From laboratory to large-scale production, from traditional medicine to modern cosmetics, this ancient “gift of nature” is reshaping the future of the health industry in an unprecedented manner.
Life Energy Co., Ltd.
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