Slovenian supplement maker eyes China through Shanghai import expo

Slovenian supplement manufacturer Biostile is seeking a foothold in China's consumer market at the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, aiming to transform an established supply relationship into two-way trade in higher-value products.

At its factory in Komen, surrounded by Slovenia's beloved Karst landscape, the company develops, manufactures and packages nutritional supplements. Around one quarter of its ingredients come from China, but Biostile now hopes to export finished products back to the country.

Chief executive Dalibor Kosmina says expanded production capacity has made that ambition realistic.

"In the past, we were too small to enter the Chinese market but now we invest a lot in the production capacity and are ready with technology and with the production capacity to enter the Chinese market," said Kosmina.

Improved stability and absorption

Biostile employs approximately 350 people across several countries and has developed its own patented microencapsulation technology, designed to protect active ingredients and improve their stability and absorption.

The company reports that clinical testing of its microencapsulated coenzyme Q10 demonstrated absorption up to five times higher than a pharmaceutical reference formulation.

Its Shanghai objectives include identifying distributors, understanding regulatory requirements and assessing which products could appeal to Chinese consumers.

Slovenia's participation reflects a broader effort to increase exports to China through innovation and commercial partnerships.

The country's business development agency, SPIRIT Slovenia, is coordinating its fifth appearance at CIIE, with 13 companies exhibiting across two pavilions covering 264 square meters, almost double last year's participation.

SPIRIT director Tamara Zajec Blazic identifies healthcare, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals as areas where Slovenian innovation could create opportunities for Chinese partners.

"The industries that are mostly innovative and that are the ones that could play a major role also for Chinese companies of course are healthcare, biotechnology, pharma," she said, pointing to expanding innovation hubs.

For Biostile, success at CIIE would mean securing regulatory approvals and distribution partnerships, ultimately bringing Chinese orders to its production lines in Komen. The broader ambition is to translate Slovenia's scientific expertise into sustained exports and a more balanced trading relationship.