Local drug maker AFT Pharmaceuticals has begun selling a range of its products into the multi-billion-dollar Chinese market.
Photo: 123RF
The over the counter (OTC) products will be sold through the company's store, Kiwi Health Global Flagship Store, on the cross-border e-commerce platform, Tmall Global.
The store was launched in 2020, as part of a trial, but now had now become the first New Zealand firms to be registered under China's cross border e-commerce pilot scheme.
It currently stocks AFT's vitamin supplements, digestive products, eye drops and hay fever medicines.
The company's flagship Maxigesic pain relief medication, and five additional medicinal products, will be rolled-out in the second phase of the launch.
AFT founder and managing director Hartley Atkinson said the online store offers "significant growth" opportunities for the company.
"The Chinese market for OTC medicines is the world's second largest behind the US and is growing rapidly.
"In 2020 it was worth US$16.3 billion, and it is now expected to reach US$22.7b by 2023, as the Chinese population ages and becomes more focussed on healthcare."
He said the Kiwi Health Flagship store aims to take advantage of AFT's product range and capitalise on the high regard and demand for New Zealand products in China.