If you’re currently evaluating a supplement product line, the softgel dosage form should already be on your shortlist. So, are you finding it difficult to choose a manufacturer for softgels or capsus?
It’s not a new product, but it’s in a phase of accelerated growth. Consumers are driving the global softgel market toward an estimated value of $17.2 billion by 2034, while maintaining a CAGR of approximately 5.9%. Rather than relying on the rapid growth of a single product category, the market is expanding because consumers increasingly prefer dosage forms that offer better absorption, easier swallowing, and greater stomach comfort. Softgels meet all three of these demands, making them one of the fastest-growing supplement delivery formats worldwide.
claim to manufacture softgels, but only a few can consistently deliver batches of products that are compliant, accurate in content, and reliable. This guide helps you choose reputable softgel capsule manufacturers.
Why is Softgel suitable as a supplement?
Many brands choose softgels because they “look high-end,” but this reason is too weak. You need a more solid logic, because the production cost and process complexity of softgels are higher than those of regular hard capsules.
Advantages of Softgel
Bioavailability is a core advantage. Softgel uses a sealed shell to encapsulate liquid or semi-solid fillers, with active ingredients existing in a dissolved or emulsified state, resulting in faster and higher absorption rates after entering the gastrointestinal tract.
Sealed protection for sensitive ingredients. Manufacturers mold the softgel shell into a single piece, creating an airtight seal that protects sensitive ingredients from oxygen, light, and moisture. This protection helps preserve ingredients such as fish oil, astaxanthin, and lycopene, extending shelf life and improving product stability throughout storage.
Consumer compliance is better. The ease of swallowing, the lack of stickiness in the mouth, and the absence of a bitter, powdery taste—these experiential details directly influence whether users continue taking the supplement. Repurchase rates are highly correlated with this metric. Data from the CRN (Common Nutritional Research Network) shows that in 2023, 77% of Americans took dietary supplements, with softgel-based supplements showing the highest growth rate.
There is greater potential for brand premium. Consumers often view softgels as a more professional dosage form than tablets, which helps brands build a stronger efficacy narrative and justify premium pricing in the $30–60 product range.
Shell material selection
Before discussing formulas with contract manufacturers, you need to figure out the shell material first. This decision affects not only costs, but also which channels you can access, what certifications you can obtain, and what labels you can use.
Gelatin shell
Derived from bovine bone or pigskin collagen, it is currently the mainstream product in the market, with gelatin-based softgels accounting for approximately 82% of the overall market share in 2024. Its advantages include low cost, excellent oxygen barrier properties, mature processing technology, and wide compatibility with fillers. Its limitations include unsuitability for vegetarian, vegan, Halal, or Kosher markets, and the need for additional documentation proving the source of raw materials when entering certain European and Middle Eastern channels.
HPMC (Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose) Plant Base Shell
Manufacturers produce these softgels from plant-based cellulose instead of animal-derived gelatin, making them naturally suitable for vegetarian, vegan, halal, and kosher markets. High-end health retailers across Europe and North America increasingly demand plant-based softgels as consumers continue to favor clean-label and sustainable products. Although plant-based softgels currently hold a smaller share of the market, consumers are driving rapid growth in this segment, reflecting the ongoing shift toward plant-based supplement solutions. Although more expensive than gelatin and with slightly narrower compatibility with fillers, the technology is already quite mature.
Which one to choose?
If your target channels are the mass market (ordinary e-commerce, pharmacies, sporting goods channels), gelatin shells offer better value for money; if your target channels are high-end health retail (Whole Foods, iHerb boutiques), the EU market, the Middle East market, or if you want to market yourself as vegan, HPMC is a must, not an option.
A mature Softgel OEM should be able to produce both types of shell materials and flexibly switch according to your channel requirements, rather than only giving you one option.
The most suitable active ingredients for softgels
Although manufacturers cannot formulate every supplement as a softgel, they often choose softgels for specific ingredients because softgels deliver performance advantages that other dosage forms cannot easily match.
Omega-3 / Fish Oil
This is the natural domain of Softgels. Manufacturers use sealed softgel capsules to protect the highly unsaturated fatty acids in fish oil from oxidation, making softgels one of the most effective delivery formats for preserving product quality. To verify quality and potency, brands should carefully review the actual EPA and DHA content as well as the Total Oxidation Value (TOTOX), and manufacturers should clearly document both indicators in the Certificate of Analysis (COA).
Fat-soluble vitamins (D3, K2, A, E)
These components are soluble in fats rather than water, and their stability and bioavailability in the oil-filled matrix of Softgels are superior to those of tablets. The vitamin D3 + K2 combination is currently one of the most popular combinations in bone health products, with demand rising in almost all major markets.
CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10)
CoQ10 exists in two forms—Ubiquinone (oxidized) and Ubiquinol (reduced). Ubiquinol has a higher absorption rate but is more expensive to produce and is extremely sensitive to oxidation. It is much more stable than other dosage forms in the sealed environment of a softgel. For brands producing high-end cardiovascular health products, CoQ10 softgels are essential for a strong narrative.
Astaxanthin, lycopene, and lutein
These carotenoids are highly sensitive to light and oxygen, making them one of the most effective categories for protecting the softgel shell. They are suitable for products targeting eye health, anti-oxidation, and skin health.
Plant-based oils (evening primrose oil, black cumin oil, boric grape oil)
These functional oils derived from plants are far more stable in softgels than in open packaging, resulting in a longer shelf life, making them suitable for brands that emphasize “natural plant sources”.
Complex formulations
Omega-3 + Vitamin D3 + K2 triple formula, CoQ10 + Panthenol complex, Curcumin + Black Pepper Extract – Complex Softgels are currently one of the highest-priced product lines, requiring contract manufacturers to have sufficient formulation compatibility testing capabilities.
Softgel manufacturing process
Understanding the production process is not about becoming an engineer, but about being able to ask the right questions during factory audits and COA reviews.
Step 1: Shell Preparation
Manufacturers mix gelatin or HPMC with plasticizers such as glycerin and sorbitol and water, then heat the mixture under strictly controlled temperature conditions to form a gel matrix. They also adjust color and opacity during this stage to achieve the desired appearance and product specifications. The temperature and humidity control in this step directly affects the uniformity of the shell and the subsequent sealing quality.
Step 2: Fill Preparation
Manufacturers dissolve or disperse the active ingredients in an oil-based or semi-solid matrix to create a homogeneous fill formulation. For oxidation-sensitive ingredients such as fish oil and CoQ10 ubiquinol, manufacturers often conduct this process in a nitrogen-flushed or low-oxygen environment to minimize oxidation and prevent ingredient degradation before encapsulation. The level of process expertise at this step is a key differentiator between a qualified and an excellent factory.
Step 3: Rotary Die Encapsulation
Rotary compression molding technology is currently the mainstream technology in the market, accounting for 72% of the soft capsule production market share in 2024. Manufacturers simultaneously form two continuous softgel shell ribbons through a rotary die process, precisely inject the fill material between them, and immediately seal the capsule to create an airtight softgel. They automate the entire encapsulation process and continuously monitor key parameters such as fill weight, seal integrity, and shell thickness to ensure consistent product quality.
Step 4: Drying
Freshly packaged softgels have a high moisture content and a soft texture, requiring slow drying and setting under controlled temperature and humidity conditions (typically 24–48 hours). Insufficient drying leads to product deformation and leakage from the casing; over-drying causes the casing to become brittle and break. This step is where many small factories are prone to problems.
Step 5: Quality Control & Testing
Before leaving the factory, qualified Softgel manufacturers must complete the following: visual inspection (color, shape, and absence of leakage), weight consistency testing, shell thickness measurement, disintegration time testing, active ingredient content detection (HPLC or other methods), and peroxide value (PV) and TOTOX value testing for oxidation-sensitive products. These data must be reflected in the COA for each batch; verbal guarantees are insufficient.
How can I determine if a softgel manufacturer is reliable?
This is the question most frequently asked by brands, and it’s also the area where the most pitfalls are encountered.
Certification is a basic requirement, not a bonus
cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) certified by the US FDA is a prerequisite for entering the US market. If the target market also includes the EU, EU GMP or ISO 22000 is required; if there are halal channels, Halal certification is required; if producing organic products, USDA Organic is required. Note: Certification certificates have expiration dates; please check the latest certification documents and confirm that the certification scope covers Softgel production (some factories are only certified for certain dosage forms).
I require a real COA, not a template COA
An honest factory will proactively provide 2-3 actual production COAs (CoAs) for the most recent batches, including the active ingredient content (the deviation range from the label value), heavy metal test results, and microbiological test results. If the other party only provides a “sample COA” or the batch number on the COA cannot be traced, this is a clear red flag.
Capacity and flexibility should match your stage
In the initial stage of a brand’s new product launch, flexible small-batch production capabilities (MOQ 3000–5000 bottles) are more important than production capacity. Factories that can provide small-batch sampling and offer sampling fees that can be deducted from formal orders are the lowest-cost option for brands to experiment with. It’s a clearer logic to discuss long-term mass production contracts after scaling up.
Ask about the oxidation control process of the filler
For any oil-based product, this question cannot be skipped: How do you control oxidation during the filling stage? Nitrogen purging protection? Low-temperature operation? Have accelerated stability tests been conducted after packaging? If a factory answers this question vaguely, it means they don’t have a deep enough understanding of the Softgel process, and your fish oil or CoQ10 product may exceed the oxidation limit after only three months on the shelf.
Communication response speed is a criterion for judgment beyond process capability
Working with a contract manufacturer is a long-term relationship, and the quality of communication before the first sampling is a good predictor of future collaborations. If there is no substantial response to an inquiry within 48 hours, or if they can only provide vague answers to your formula questions, the efficiency of handling problems after the collaboration begins is likely to be poor.
Jiabeikang’s core competencies as a supplement manufacturer
Among numerous softgel manufacturers, choosing a partner who truly understands the brand’s needs is crucial. Jiabeikang has accumulated systematic advantages in the softgel manufacturing field:
Full-line production capability for bi-shell materials: Both gelatin and HPMC plant-based shells can be produced, eliminating the need for brands to switch between two factories. Whether your target channels are mass retail or the high-end vegan market, one factory can cover them all, significantly reducing supply chain management complexity.
Specialized process for oxidation-sensitive ingredients: For ingredients with high oxidation risk such as fish oil, CoQ10 Ubiquinol, and astaxanthin, it has a full nitrogen-filled packaging system and low-temperature operation plan. Each batch comes with TOTOX value and peroxide value test reports, and the shelf stability is supported by data.
cGMP certification supports multiple certification systems: The factory has passed FDA cGMP certification and can support Non-GMO, Vegan (HPMC shell), Halal, Kosher and other certification applications, covering the compliance requirements of the three major markets of North America, the European Union and the Middle East.
Smooth transition from small-batch prototyping to mass production: We provide low MOQ prototyping services, complete COA and stability test reports during the prototyping stage, and enter mass production only after verifying the formula, keeping the brand’s trial and error costs within an acceptable range.
One-stop OEM/ODM support: From formula development (R&D team assists in ingredient selection and dosage design), raw material procurement (COA traceability) to production, testing, packaging, and label compliance audit, we provide full-process support, eliminating the need for brands to assemble different suppliers themselves.
FAQ
Manufacturers typically pay 30–50% more for HPMC shell materials than for traditional gelatin, which increases the production cost of each bottle. However, brands can often offset this additional cost by positioning their products in premium vegan channels, obtaining halal certification, or expanding into the European market, where consumers are generally willing to pay higher prices for plant-based supplement products.
The shelf life of general products stored in sealed containers is 24–36 months.However, manufacturers must verify the actual shelf life of oxidation-sensitive products such as fish oil and astaxanthin through accelerated stability testing.Influencing factors include the oxygen barrier properties of the shell (gelatin is better than HPMC), the antioxidant treatment of the filler (addition of mixed tocopherols), the packaging material (aluminum foil bottles > HDPE bottles), and storage temperature and humidity conditions.
Standard formulation sampling typically takes 1-2 weeks; for custom formulations or special shell materials, 2-3 weeks is more reasonable. Adding the time for third-party testing (heavy metals + microorganisms + content testing), it usually takes 3-4 weeks from sampling to obtaining a complete Certificate of Account (COA) . It is recommended to clearly allow this time in your product launch plan.
Conclusion: Choosing the factory is more crucial than choosing the ingredients.
The Softgel dosage form has a real market growth logic and real technological barriers. The most common failure path for brands in this category is not wrong product positioning, but wrong factory selection—inaccurate COA data, inadequate oxidation control, poor batch stability, resulting in one-star reviews from consumers and third-party evaluations after launch.
The good news is that the criteria for judging whether a factory is reliable are clear: authentic and valid certification documents, traceable historical COAs, a well-defined oxidation control process, a professional sampling process, and timely communication and response. Confirm these five things before signing a contract.
Market data is optimistic, but whether a product can get a share of this growth ultimately depends on whether your supply chain can reliably deliver a high-quality product.
