Chinese Vitamins : a USD 150 Billion Business

In Western countries, vitamins is a category of products that are difficult to define, but in China, 27 functions characterize

 Last year, the Chinese consumed more than 115 billion RMB of vitamins and dietary supplements, which is the result of the increase in disposable income and the increased awareness of the Chinese middle class of health problems. There are now more than 350 million middle class consumers in mainland China representing the largest food supplement market in the world.

The supplement industry has grown considerably in China in recent years and will continue to do so in the future. There are a number of explicit reasons why this is the case. One thing is certain: many companies have made big profits by conquering the Chinese market.

But dietary supplements are edible and consumed by humans, which means that somewhat strict regulations apply. It is important that you first understand the import regulations and the export process.

Sell Vitamins in China

In this article, I explain how you can start selling health supplements and vitamins in China.
Health supplement on the Chinese market The health supplement market has grown significantly in China in recent years. This is something you will see in other Asian countries, such as Vietnam. And there are several reasons for this:
As people get richer and the middle class grows, they begin to enjoy fitness, personal care, equipment purchases and the exciting products that come with it. China has problems with food quality and air pollution, which is causing people to spend a little more money on health supplements. Quoting a Chinese friend with whom I traveled to China, he suddenly said, "You know, our air is so bad we have to drink a lot of green tea to make up for it." A larger online presence and greater appreciation of Western lifestyle and products are also key drivers of growth in the health supplement market. Ordering a box of vitamins in Australia is so much easier today than it was ten years ago China has a problem with the aging of its population, which is driving demand for health supplements Nutritional awareness source Daxue
It is not surprising that demand for vitamins is increasing, especially from abroad, as people get richer and more aware of their nutritional value.
While whey protein is commonly used in formulas, fitness products and bakeries, vitamins are also used by many middle-aged and elderly people.
Some of the most popular products are calcium supplements, vitamin C, and vitamin E, but there is also a strong demand for other products, such as fish oil, vitamin C, and detoxification products.
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China's new food law and registration with the CFDA It should be noted that the sale of natural foods, such as vitamins, is not the easiest task to accomplish. China has passed the Food Security Law of the People's Republic of China (2015 version), which states that you must register and deposit your products with the CFDA (China Food and Drug Administration).

Source 

Chinese Agent or go by yourself 

You need a Chinese agent to help you with the question. The process of registering your trademark and managing licenses can take years. A simpler option is to sell via cross-border e-commerce, which removes a lot of obstacles and allows you to sell your products directly. Blackmores, a success story One company that has managed to sell vitamins in the Chinese market is the Australian brand Blackmore's.

With annual sales of 700 million RMB (around 100 million USD) in 2017, they have managed to double their sales sixfold and double their profits in just one year. Blackmore's is living proof that e-commerce is the way forward in an increasingly digital world, especially in a country like China. What vitamins are needed in China? Vitamins E and C have grown strongly in China, mainly among women, because of the relationship between vitamins and beauty. We have seen the same trend in other products, such as collagen, which is very popular because of its healing and preservation functions. Can I sell health supplements and vitamins online? Online sales, especially via cross-border e-commerce, have increased significantly in China in recent years. Health supplements, such as whey protein and vitamins, are no exception. As mentioned, doing it in a traditional way can be expensive and take years to get permission to sell. The two most popular online platforms you should consult are:

• Tmall Global 
• JD Global 

Vitamin-based products are also popular in China. This market was $ 16.27 billion last year. More traditional Chinese ingredients are also becoming more popular. It is estimated that 4 billion people are under the control of herbal medicine in the world. Among the most traditional vitamins and dietary supplements are gelatin with donkey skin, ginseng and Cordyceps sinensis.
In recent years, international sales of vitamins and dietary supplements have increased by 12%, which is above the 10% average. As stated in the title, it's time for international brands to hit the market, but you do not rush. The VDS market in China will evolve rapidly, it requires a real analysis and a strategic choice that can be adapted and profitable. For example, rural producers become important players in the coming years, they establish a climate of trust through different brands. source

Vitamins Regulation in China

China has strict regulations for the registration and licensing of health products because you must obtain the CFDA Health Food Approval Certificate. Food products may be labeled as dietary foods if they apply to one of two categories: foods with specific health functions, which are products that can be consumed by specific groups of people for the purpose of regulating different functions human body, or nutritional supplements products that contain food ingredients used to supplement nutrients for the human body.

ECommerce in China

With e-commerce, you can sell immediately without a license if you get the approval of the appropriate cross-border platforms. Online computing platforms are being used more and more by tech-savvy consumers. Indeed, the majority of Chinese purchases are made online and the growth of mobile device sales is increasing every year. Given that e-commerce is likely to become one of the most popular outlets for the sale of vitamins and dietary supplements, an online sales infrastructure is essential. For example, you can establish your business on Tmall. It is the largest and most popular cross-border e-commerce platform in China because it is associated with quality and authenticity. As an open platform market, Tmall.com provides the infrastructure to host your storefront and unfiltered access to hundreds of millions of customers. Source SeoChinaagency

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The vitamin and dietary supplement market is a niche segment and it can offer your business many opportunities due to social changes in China and consumer awareness of health.