Global Shifts in the Bovine Gallstone Market
Since the summer of 2025, the global market for bovine gallstones has seen a resurgence of interest, driven mainly by new trade agreements between Uruguay, Argentina, and China. These agreements, signed in mid-September 2025, authorize for the first time the direct export of such products from South America to the Chinese traditional medicine (TCM) market, where demand remains strong for niu huang (牛黄), an ingredient used in ancient remedies such as Angong Niuhuang Wan.
Uruguay and Argentina hope to turn this niche sector into a significant source of foreign currency, with official pricing structures rewarding higher-quality stones. Several Latin American media outlets (Ámbito, Uypress, Medios Públicos) have confirmed that Uruguay also plans to import gallstones from neighboring countries (such as Brazil) for local processing before re-export, thus strengthening its position as a regional hub.
Market Dynamics in China
In China, public debate over the pricing and pharmacological efficacy of products containing niu huang intensified in the fall of 2025. Economic newspapers (such as Xin Kuai Bao and Eastmoney) have reported a decline in the price of natural niu huang, linked to a more stable supply and stricter counterfeit controls. At the same time, some Chinese companies are promoting synthetic or cell-culture-derived substitutes in an effort to reduce import dependency.
Challenges and Outlook
The trade in bovine gallstones illustrates a market at the intersection of agriculture, pharmacology, and ethics. On one hand, it offers economic opportunities for South American exporting countries; on the other, it raises questions about traceability, animal welfare, and sustainability.
Analysts predict that Chinese demand will remain stable in the medium term, but that international pressure for synthetic alternatives will continue to rise — particularly under the influence of health regulations and stricter controls on animal-derived products.