DUOLAC Reaches All Six Continents, Expanding the Global Footprint of K-Probiotics

Cell Biotech, Korea’s No. 1 probiotic exporter for 13 consecutive years, has made its first-ever export of its proprietary CBT probiotics to South Africa, marking the company’s entry into the African market for the first time since its founding. With this milestone, Cell Biotech has expanded its export footprint beyond Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and Oceania to Africa, completing its global export network across all six continents.

The latest export deal was made possible through Vitafoods Europe, the world’s largest nutraceutical exhibition. Covering the entire industry value chain, from functional food ingredients and finished products to distribution, Vitafoods Europe serves as a global hub for the health and nutrition industry. Cell Biotech first participated in Vitafoods Europe in 2002 as the first Korean company to do so and has continued to participate for 25 years, steadily expanding its network of international partners and showcasing the technological capabilities of Korean probiotics. The first export to South Africa is another example of how the overseas network built through the exhibition has translated into an actual business partnership.

Building on these international partnerships, Cell Biotech continues to achieve strong results across global markets. From 2013 to 2025, Korea’s cumulative probiotic exports totaled KRW 538.5 billion, of which Cell Biotech accounted for KRW 268.8 billion, or approximately 50% of the total. Based on these export achievements, Cell Biotech has maintained its position as Korea’s No. 1 probiotic exporter for 13 consecutive years.

Cell Biotech has also achieved notable results across individual markets. In Denmark, the home of probiotics, DUOLAC has surpassed local brands to rank No. 1 in the pharmacy market by market share. In Germany, one of the world’s most advanced markets for health functional foods, cumulative exports have exceeded USD 30 million. Cell Biotech first entered Indonesia in 2001 and achieved the No. 1 market share with its proprietary CBT probiotics. In Singapore, DUOLAC, launched in 2015, has risen to No. 1 in the prescription drug (ETC) market, further strengthening the company’s presence across key international markets.

At the heart of Cell Biotech’s global expansion is its proprietary Dual Coating technology. The technology uses two protective layers made of protein and polysaccharides to shield live probiotics from gastric acid and bile acids, helping them safely reach the intestine. In a human clinical study, the technology demonstrated up to 221 times greater intestinal survival compared with non-coated probiotics.

The outstanding stability of DUOLAC is regarded as a key factor supporting its global competitiveness. In a temperature stability test conducted at 40°C for two weeks, probiotics with Dual Coating demonstrated survival rates thousands of times higher than those of non-coated probiotics. DUOLAC’s Dual Coating technology maintains excellent stability across a broad temperature range from -70°C to 40°C, demonstrating its performance across diverse climatic conditions—from the extreme cold of Russia to the intense heat of Africa.

Strict quality and safety management also supports Cell Biotech’s continued expansion into international markets. Cell Biotech manufactures all of its products in accordance with standards set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and has obtained global certifications including GMP, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, HACCP, HALAL, and Kosher, enabling the company to supply its products to markets around the world. In addition, 11 strains of Cell Biotech’s proprietary CBT probiotics have been listed under the U.S. FDA’s GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) program, further demonstrating the company’s commitment to safety and quality.

A Cell Biotech representative said, “The first export to South Africa is significant not simply because it adds a new country to our export markets, but because it expands the reach of K-probiotics to all six continents. Going forward, we will continue to expand our global partnerships based on our proprietary CBT probiotics and Dual Coating technology, while further strengthening the competitiveness of K-probiotics in markets around the world.”

※ Cell Biotech’s Export Markets: 56 Countries Across Six Continents

Europe (31 countries)	Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Türkiye, Israel, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Bulgaria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Belgium, Latvia, Poland, Austria, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Lithuania, Estonia
Asia (16 countries)	Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan
North America (2 countries)	United States of America, Mexico
South America (5 countries)	Colombia, Paraguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru
Oceania (1 country)	Australia
Africa (1 country)	South Africa (NEW)