In brief
At the SupplySide Global 2026 expo in Las Vegas, nearly 600 Chinese firms demonstrated their health‑ingredient products and manufacturing capabilities, and announced plans to build U.S. processing facilities. Ganoherb Group and Changsha Huir Biological‑tech Co. highlighted a pivot from raw‑material supply to branded finished goods, citing intense price competition and the advantages of Chinese production efficiencies. U.S. industry leaders noted the importance of Chinese suppliers, which provide about 80 percent of global raw materials for dietary supplements.
In Las Vegas this week, the largest dietary‑supplement expo in North America became a showcase for Chinese firms eager to upgrade their roles from raw‑material suppliers to branded manufacturers. The SupplySide Global 2026 event, which closed on Friday at the Mandalay Bay, drew more than 1,600 exhibitors and over 20,000 industry professionals, including a record‑high number of nearly 600 companies from China.
A parallel China Innovative Health Ingredients Brand Show, featuring over 60 Chinese companies, ran alongside the main expo. For many exhibitors the focus is shifting toward high‑value finished products and building their own consumer brands.
Ganoherb Group, a longstanding producer of organic lingzhi (reishi mushroom) products, has supplied raw materials and OEM services overseas for years. At the expo, the firm presented reishi mushroom coffee and tea made with concentrated extracts and highlighted its new direction. Li Ye, Ganoherb’s president and founder, told Xinhua that the company plans to emphasize branded products in the U.S. market, building on China’s traditional strengths in lingzhi cultivation.
Changsha Huir Biological‑tech Co., Ltd., based in Hunan Province, also announced a plan to build a U.S. processing facility to manufacture finished products for global distribution after a decade of supplying natural extracts and other ingredients abroad. Yuan Zhi, Changsha Huir’s general manager, said China’s advantage lies in diverse raw‑material sources and increasingly automated, energy‑efficient production equipment. He added that the new facility would extend the company’s business beyond ingredient supply and create a more integrated supply chain.
Industry observers noted the significant role that Chinese suppliers play in the global dietary‑supplement market. Loren Israelsen, president of the United Natural Products Alliance, told Xinhua that China supplies roughly 80 percent of the industry’s raw materials. He added that, "Having good Chinese suppliers is fundamental to the success of the American marketplace and to serving consumers effectively."
While the expo showcased a wide array of innovative products, the trend toward branded finished goods reflects the increasing price competition faced by raw‑material suppliers and the appeal of owning a consumer brand in the U.S. market.
