Cell Biotech's K-Probiotics exports to Indonesia exceed $30 million

Cell Biotech, the global leader in the export of “K-Probiotics” for 11 consecutive years, held a commemorative event to celebrate reaching $30 million in cumulative exports to Indonesia. This achievement reflects the company’s proven competitiveness in the global market, powered by its independently developed CBT probiotic strains and internationally recognized certifications.

Since 2001, Cell Biotech has been exporting K-Probiotics to Indonesia. What began with exports worth just $1,500 in its first year has grown steadily, reaching $3.7 million in 2024 and surpassing $30 million in total. With a population of approximately 280 million, Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous nation and considered a key strategic market with strong potential for explosive growth in domestic demand. Currently, Cell Biotech holds the No. 1 market share in Indonesia’s probiotic market.

Despite its potential, Indonesia’s probiotic market presents high entry barriers. The Indonesian Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) enforces strict regulations on health functional foods, including mandatory HALAL certification. For probiotics, the registration process extends beyond genus and species to require manufacturer-specific strain identification. Approval is only granted following rigorous screening procedures such as human application testing.

To date, only 95 probiotic strains have been registered with BPOM—six of which are Cell Biotech’s CBT strains: ▲CBT-LR5 ▲CBT-LA1 ▲CBT-LP3 ▲CBT-BG7 ▲CBT-BF3 ▲CBT-ST3. These patented strains are key ingredients in the company’s flagship brand, DUOLAC. Derived from the Korean human microbiome and traditional fermented foods, they also received FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) certification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year, validating their global safety and credibility.

To mark this export milestone, Cell Biotech invited key stakeholders from Indonesia to Korea. The event gathered 47 participants, including representatives from KALBE—the largest pharmaceutical company in Indonesia—and influential local doctors (key opinion leaders). The event served as a meaningful opportunity to highlight the excellence of K-lactic acid bacteria and to strengthen global partnerships. Cell Biotech emphasized that close collaboration with healthcare professionals is critical, as probiotics in Indonesia are primarily prescribed by doctors.

A representative from KALBE stated, “Cell Biotech was the first to raise awareness about the importance of lactic acid bacteria in Indonesia and is a trusted name among many doctors. We have high expectations for the future performance of Cell Biotech’s K-lactic acid bacteria in Indonesia’s now rapidly growing probiotic market.”

Meanwhile, Cell Biotech continues to lead the Korean probiotic industry with its DUOLAC brand, a life-stage-specific solution for lifelong gut health. The company pioneered the mass production of probiotics in Korea in 1995, achieving full domestic production. For 30 years, Cell Biotech has been solely focused on developing Korean-specific probiotics tailored to the gut health of Koreans. Through life-cycle-based strain design, the company offers personalized probiotic solutions for all age groups—from newborns to middle-aged adults.