Yunnan Baiyao aims to expand presence in wider healthcare market

Operating research and development centers in Kunming, Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Wuxi — focusing on TCM research, drug development, and product upgrades — innovation is key to Yunnan Baiyao's business strategy.

Its innovation push also extends to manufacturing. In September, the World Economic Forum named Yunnan Baiyao's Smart Factory to the Global Lighthouse Network — the first facility in the TCM health products sector to receive the honor.

Despite a changing market environment, Yunnan Baiyao has maintained steady financial growth. Its operating revenue climbed from 32.7 billion yuan in 2020 to 40 billion yuan in 2024, with net profit attributable to shareholders also growing during this period.

Shareholders have benefited from the company's robust profitability. From 2022 to 2024, it distributed 10.7 billion yuan in cash dividends, with the payout ratio consistently above 90 percent — among the highest in the industry.

Internationally, Yunnan Baiyao is guided by the "dual circulation" development pattern. It leverages its subsidiary, Yunbai International, to strengthen its international platform in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and develop an operational system that meets international standards. Additionally, it is accelerating its expansion into the ASEAN market, capitalizing on Yunnan's geographical advantages.

In February, Yunnan Baiyao achieved its first import clearance of TCM materials via the Mohan port, actively engaging in the international trade of TCM materials with Southeast Asian countries like Laos, thus contributing to the high-quality development of the TCM industry and regional economic growth. Four months later, the first batch of Yunnan Baiyao toothpaste produced in Thailand was successfully sold outside the Chinese mainland.

Analysts note that Yunnan Baiyao exemplifies how a traditional brand can adapt to modern market needs. By integrating TCM heritage with advanced R&D and a digitalized supply chain, the company has laid a foundation for sustainable growth.