Soaring Global Demand for Natural Astaxanthin Prompts AstaReal to Build a US Plant and Double Existing Production by 2015

17 July 2013 --- The current global market size of natural astaxanthin for human consumption is estimated to be around 200Mil US$ and set to reach 700 mil US$ by 2017. In order to cope with this extraordinary global market demand, AstaReal Co., Ltd - a biotech company within Fuji Chemical Group, exclusively dedicated to the production, research and marketing of natural astaxanthin – has announced to build a new manufacturing facility in Moses’ Lake -a city in Washington State famous for its natural fresh water lakes and fertile ecosystem.

The new cutting-edge facility will utilize environmental friendly and ultra-pure bioreactor cultivation technology, which has been developed and upgraded since 1995. The “Made-in-USA” AstaReal extracted from the fresh-water microalgae, Haematoccus pluvialis will be expected to hit the global market in the summer of 2014. The 30-million dollar facility is expected to double existing production of natural astaxanthin by 2015; this strategic investment will dramatically boost AstaReal product innovation, supply capability and global competitiveness.

“We also see the 21st century as the era of anti-aging. We believe that preventive medicine will play an even greater role in future healthcare as advances in anti-aging and lifestyle-disease research drive improvements both in the treatment and prevention of disease and illness. To that end, we have succeeded in realizing the world's first industrial production of natural astaxanthin which is both safe and high in antioxidative potency. We have since devoted greater efforts than any other research organization to advancing astaxanthin research.” Mitsunori Nishida, President & CEO of AstaReal and Fuji Chemical Group.

The rising popularity of AstaReal astaxanthin as anti-aging nutraceutical supplementation and cosmeceutical application has been globally driven by Fuji Group’s strong investment in clinical studies and strategic patents. Those efforts were spearheaded by prominent endorsements from acclaimed researchers, health professionals, celebrities, premium brands and athletes worldwide.

AstaReal was the first company in the world to commercially produce and study natural astaxanthin in 1994. Continuous market demand for astaxanthin has initially pressed AstaReal to expand its Swedish plant in 2012. Yet, a tremendous spike in global consumer demand for natural astaxanthin has convinced AstaREAL to build a new top-notch facility in order to fully address the needs and demands of both the US and global market.

AstaReal R&D team intends to strengthen strategic collaborations with research institutions and universities worldwide. AstaREAL also aims to establish online educational platforms for consumers and sponsor large-scale symposiums for practitioners and anti-aging experts. This ambitious research and communication program will continue to place AstaReal as the Leading-Global-Player in the clinical science and innovation of astaxanthin-related products.