Homegrown horse-oil ethyl ester poised to replace imports in high-end cosmetic raw materials

Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Li Xing) news: By innovating and upgrading production processes to conduct deep impurity removal, decolorization and purification of raw materials, domestically produced horse-oil ingredients are expected to replace imported counterparts in the cosmetics industry. This achievement is based on a recently developed proprietary core technology of Xinjiang Natural Aromatic Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd., marking a groundbreaking advancement in the domestic production of high-end horse-oil ingredients for cosmetic applications.

For a long time, the domestic high-end horse oil cosmetics market has been dominated by overseas brands. On major e-commerce platforms, such as Taobao and JD.com, searches for "horse-oil cosmetics" show that nearly all top-ranked premium products originate from Japan and South Korea.

This market landscape is now poised for a fundamental transformation. In April 2026, horse-oil ethyl esters, an innovative ingredient independently developed by the company, have successfully completed filing with the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) as a new cosmetic ingredient. It is the first new cosmetic ingredient of its kind to be approved in China's deep-processing sector of horse oil. This achievement fills a domestic technological gap and provides strong impetus for the high-quality development of Xinjiang's distinctive cosmetics industry.

Refined horse oil ethyl ester, produced with proprietary technology by Xinjiang Natural Aromatic Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd. (Photo courtesy of the company)

Xinjiang possesses exceptional resource advantages for the development of the equine industry. Data indicate that in 2025, the horse population in Xinjiang exceeded one million, accounting for one-third of the national total, while the total output value of the horse industry reached nearly 17 billion yuan (about 2.5 billion U.S. dollars). Supported by a range of targeted industrial policies introduced by the autonomous region, the horse industry is continuously transforming and upgrading toward high-quality, refined and diversified development. These provide a strong resource base and a favorable industrial environment for the development, commercialization, and application of horse-oil ethyl esters.

For many years, however, China's horse-fat industry has faced persistent challenges, including substantial resource wastage, an underdeveloped industrial value chain, and low value-added products. According to Cao Xiaojie, head of the quality management department at the company, crude horse oil has traditionally been exported to Japanese and South Korean companies for further processing into high-value skincare products, which are subsequently sold back to the Chinese market at premium prices. This unfavorable situation has long constituted a major bottleneck in the development of China's horse-fat industry.

A worker operates molecular distillation equipment to refine horse oil ethyl ester at Xinjiang Natural Aromatic Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd. (Photo courtesy of the company)

To address these long-standing industry challenges and capitalize on Xinjiang's exceptional horse industry resources, the company made substantial investments and, following extensive experimentation, successfully developed China's first new cosmetic ingredient produced through the advanced processing of horse oil -- horse-oil ethyl esters. This ingredient converts previously discarded horse-fat by-products into high-value cosmetic raw materials, enabling a significant transition in the utilization of Xinjiang's distinctive resources from extensive raw material export to high-end, technology-driven manufacturing.

"This technology can boost the added value of conventional horse-fat products by more than fivefold, transforming low-value slaughter by-products into premium fine-chemical raw materials," said Cao.

Conventional horse oil has several limitations, including a heavy, greasy feel on the skin, a pronounced fatty odor, and poor suitability for premium cosmetic formulations. To overcome these shortcomings, the company's research and development team upgraded the production process by introducing deep impurity removal, decolorization, and purification, thereby achieving comprehensive improvements in product quality. The refined horse-oil ethyl esters are free of impurities and unpleasant odors, provide a light and smooth skin feel, and exhibit excellent formulation compatibility. It can be widely incorporated into a full range of skincare products, including serums, creams, and maternal and infant cleansing and care products, substantially expanding their formulation versatility and potential market applications.

China's horse-oil skincare industry is currently experiencing rapid growth, with the annual growth rate remaining stable at 15 to 20 percent. However, high-end horse-oil ingredients have long been dependent on imports, while domestically produced premium alternatives have remained largely unavailable.

"Our proprietary technological advantage gives horse-oil ethyl esters a decisive competitive edge and effectively breaks the longstanding market dominance of Japanese and South Korean companies," Cao explained. Leveraging the brand strength of "Jieyou Princess," a well-known trademark in China, the company has established an innovative dual-engine business model integrating ingredient supply with the retail sale of its proprietary branded products. On the ingredient side, it maintains long-term partnerships with cosmetics manufacturers to supply high-end horse-oil ethyl esters. At the consumer end, its products are distributed nationwide through more than 300 offline specialty stores and comprehensive online sales channels across major platforms.

"We will also actively explore the application of horse-oil ethyl esters in health products and continue to expand the boundaries of the industry," Cao added. Under the company's development plan, it will further improve the advanced-processing value chain, build on Xinjiang's high-quality horse-fat resources, and continue promoting the substitution of imported premium lipid ingredients with domestically produced alternatives. These efforts are expected to provide sustained scientific and technological impetus for the high-quality development of Xinjiang's distinctive cosmetics industry and the revitalization of rural industries.

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