Hantekang makes CIFTIS debut, signs global nutrition and health pact with Norway’s Aker BioMarine

Summary

Hantekang, a New Zealand operator of specialised nutritional supplement brands, has made its CIFTIS debut and signed a 2026-2027 strategic co-operation agreement with Aker BioMarine, the global leader in krill oil. The agreement was signed at Norway's guest-of-honour showcase and the China-Norway business co-operation seminar, with the partnership spanning New Zealand, Norway and China. Under the deal, the two sides will work together on raw material supply, product development, brand promotion and market channels in 2026 and 2027.

Hantekang will use Aker BioMarine's Antarctic krill oil technology and raw material strengths to expand its premium nutrition portfolio. Aker BioMarine will draw on Hantekang's cross-border supply chain and China market capabilities to deepen its Asia-Pacific footprint. Aker BioMarine said its krill oil products have been used in more than 50 human clinical trials, with annual distribution of 1,500 tonnes, sales into about 60 countries and regions, and more than 400 million krill oil capsules sold worldwide each year.

It plans to reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030. Hantekang's products cover joint care, gut health, immunity support and cardiovascular care.

Commentary

The strategic partnership between New Zealand supplement brand Hantekang and Norway's Aker BioMarine points local small and medium-sized peers towards a new route to cross-border integration. Hantekang is not a raw materials producer; it is a channel and brand operator. By tapping Aker's technology and scale in Antarctic krill oil — 1,500 tonnes distributed a year and more than 400 million capsules sold annually — it can move quickly into the premium cardiovascular and joint care segments and avoid head-on competition with local dairy and honey products.

For NZ SMEs, the opportunity lies in using their compliance and distribution experience in China to become service providers for Nordic marine ingredients entering the Asia-Pacific, rather than simply selling their own brands. Aker's decision to partner with Hantekang instead of building its own China team reflects the complexity of Chinese distribution channels and shifting regulation in the nutrition and health market. Foreign brands prefer to work with smaller local operators that have on-the-ground capability, creating services trade openings for New Zealand firms able to offer cross-border supply chain, registration and e-commerce operations.

Krill oil is growing quickly, but Chinese consumers are tiring of the 'pure New Zealand' label, and origin stories alone will not sustain a premium. Companies need to turn ESG metrics — such as Aker's 50 percent emissions cut by 2030 — into verifiable supply chain narratives to build trust with buyers and lenders. Whether the partnership translates into sell-through at the counter still depends on how well Hantekang runs its Douyin and Tmall Global channels, not on the signing itself.

Keywords: Hantekang, Aker BioMarine, CIFTIS, strategic co-operation agreement, krill oil, nutritional supplements, cross-border supply chain, China-Norway co-operation, New Zealand, health industry

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