Trend tracker: China imports, NPD in sleep, women’s health, India probiotics

Trend tracker NutraIngredients-Asia
Find out the latest trends in Asia-Pacific's nutraceutical sector in this round-up. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Check out trends in China’s nutraceutical imports for the first half of 2026, innovation in women’s health, sleep support and probiotics from India-based companies in this round-up.

Hormonal health supplement launches target women at every life stage

The women's hormonal health supplement market is moving from a niche category centered on PMS, fertility and menopause into a much broader consumer health business tailored to specific life stages and symptoms.
The women's hormonal health supplement market is moving from a niche category centered on PMS, fertility and menopause into a much broader consumer health business tailored to specific life stages and symptoms. (gremlin / Getty Images)

As the women’s supplement market continues to expand, hormonal health is emerging as a key area of innovation, with brands focusing more on life stage needs.

Ingredients are also shifting as research into women’s hormonal health grows, with products now drawing on a more diverse range of botanicals, vitamins, minerals and biotics.

Alongside established nutrients like magnesium, folic acid, iron and B vitamins, brands are exploring bioactives including ashwagandha, shatavari extract, rhodiola, myo-inositol and resveratrol.

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China’s dietary supplement imports: Fish oil fastest-growing category in H1 2026

omega-3-supplements-fish-oil-dha-epa-iStock.com-stocksnapper.jpg
Growing evidence for the efficacy of fish oil supplementation to enhance muscle growth has come with a few caveats.(© iStock.com/stocksnapper)

Fish oil was the fastest-growing dietary supplement import category into China in the first half of this year, based on a report by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Medicines and Health Products (CCCMHPIE).

Fish oil imports increased 60.07% in value to US$384m and accounted for 9.97% of all dietary supplements that China imported in the first half of 2026.

Fish oil imports into China were largely driven by growth in Peruvian imports.

From stimulation to restoration: Sleep and recovery in cognitive wellness

Close-up photo of a deep-sleeping woman with golden sunlight on her face.
Consumers are increasingly prioritizing sleep as a foundation for cognitive wellness, shifting from reliance on stimulants to a focus on restorative processes and complimentary nutrition. (Alina Barilo/Getty Images)

Sleep is becoming a top health priority, serving as an active restorative process for the brain and nervous system and the foundation of cognitive performance, emotional balance and long-term health.

This shift is reflected in recent global data from Lumina Intelligence, which found that 54% of 6,000 survey respondents cited ‘getting better sleep’ as a key health goal, ranking first above healthy aging and managing stress.

As more consumers turn to “nourishing and replenishing” rather than quick fixes such as caffeine, innovation may be found in ingredients that can help promote both sleep and alertness and focus upon waking.

Sports nutrition is becoming everyday nutrition – Taiwan’s VITABOX

VITABOX® TWK10® Lactobacillus plantarum capsules took home the title Product of the Year (Sports Nutrition) at this year's NutraIngredients Asia Awards.
VITABOX® TWK10® Lactobacillus plantarum capsules took home the title Product of the Year (Sports Nutrition) at this year's NutraIngredients Asia Awards. (VITABOX)

Muscle building is a major feature in sports nutrition products, yet with more diverse consumer profiles and health goals, award-winning Taiwanese brand VITABOX says non-whey and non-amino acid options like probiotics can serve as an alternative.

Probiotics, for instance, can cater to lactose-intolerant individuals and those suffering from kidney conditions or amino acid metabolism disorders.

Certain probiotics can also provide additional benefits such as delaying exercise-induced fatigue.

Probiotics from India: Firms innovate beyond climate constraints for trending needs

Indian probiotic suppliers have traditionally focused more on spore-forming Bacillus cultures due to their robustness and stability in hot climates, but some companies have found ways to work with vegetative cultures through the use of innovative technologies.
Indian probiotic suppliers have traditionally focused more on spore-forming Bacillus cultures due to their robustness and stability in hot climates, but some companies have found ways to work with vegetative cultures through the use of innovative technologies. (LightFieldStudios/Getty Images)

India’s upstream probiotic sector may be nascent as compared to other Asia-Pacific countries. However, last month’s Vitafoods Asia 2026 has shown a growing presence of Indian probiotic firms ready to introduce their innovations beyond the domestic market.

An example is first-time exhibitor Fermland Bio.

Specializing in Lactiplantibacillus and Bifidobacterium strains, the company seeks to stand out from the competition by working beyond spore-forming strains, which Indian probiotic suppliers tend to focus on.