BGG ramps up astaxanthin manufacturing in China

BGG has completed new funding at its astaxanthin facility in Yunnan Province, China. The 100% glass-tube photobioreactor microalgae platform in Yunnan Province — dubbed the largest of its kind in the world — will now incorporate the entire value chain. It will now consolidate farming, extraction, drying, packaging, and R&D within a 20 km footprint.

To strengthen its resources, BGG is also opening a new research laboratory and more than doubling the size of its on-site R&D team. The team will focus on microalgae innovation and further advances in ingredient quality.

They will also work closely with regional and global research institutes on topics including tropical plants and fungi in the local biome.

Consolidating production and R&D footprint

The concentration of capabilities will support greater operational efficiency and productivity through faster tech transfer times and closer collaboration between operations and R&D. Reducing the value chain from 2,000 km to 20 km will also support cost efficiency and reductions to carbon footprint.

“We are proud to unveil our latest investment in our state-of-the-art microalgae platform, spanning the entire value chain. The enhanced synergy between manufacture and R&D will sharpen our innovation pipeline and accelerate speed to market,” says Chunhua Li, the founder and principal shareholder of BGG.

BGG World CEO Jürgen Nelis adds: “We are committed to staying ahead of global shifts to ensure uninterrupted service to our customers. By strengthening our supply chain on multiple fronts, we are building a future-ready business that can thrive no matter how the trade landscape evolves.”

BGG’s will host an inauguration day at the facility on June 20, with industry partners and representatives from the Chinese government in attendance. This follows a major expansion in 2023–2024, which more than doubled BGG’s production capacity.

The company will also be exhibiting at the upcoming Vitafoods Europe 2025 trade fair from May 20–22 in Barcelona, Spain. Members of the team will be available throughout the event to discuss BGG’s portfolio, the site expansion, and the tariff situation.

Last month, BGG announced it is strategically setting up its new global headquarters in Switzerland as part of a major restructuring plan. The branch will operate as BGG World from Basel and oversee the company’s international corporate strategy.