Haleon Unveils $350M APAC Expansion Plan with New Plant and M&A Strategy in China, India

Haleon, trading under the ticker HLN, has announced a $350 million capital commitment to expand its manufacturing footprint across Asia, with a new production plant set to open in 2028 in Gujarat, India. The facility, designed to produce over 500 million units annually of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and wellness products, will serve both domestic Indian demand and regional exports, including Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The company is also establishing a dedicated investment unit focused on acquiring mid-sized health and wellness brands in China and India, targeting deals valued between $50 million and $150 million each. The expansion is part of a broader strategy to capture rising consumer health spending in Asia, where the OTC market is projected to grow at 9.2% annually through 2030. Haleon’s leadership believes India and China represent the most scalable opportunities for volume growth and margin expansion, particularly in categories like digestive health, immunity, and women’s wellness. The company currently holds a 4.3% share of the Indian OTC market and 2.1% in China—figures it aims to more than double over the next five years. The investment could improve supply chain resilience and reduce reliance on legacy manufacturing hubs in Europe and North America. Analysts note that the move may also strengthen Haleon’s competitive position against peers such as Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), which has a long-standing presence in both markets, and PM, the parent of the P&G Health portfolio, which recently acquired a minority stake in a Chinese wellness brand. The strategy is expected to contribute approximately 12% to Haleon’s adjusted EBITDA growth by 2030, according to internal projections. While the immediate financial impact is limited due to the 2028 launch timeline, the announcement has already triggered a 3.4% rise in Haleon’s share price over two days, signaling investor confidence in the long-term trajectory.