ESTEVE CDMO Commits Over $80 Million to New 250 m³ Manufacturing Site in Shaoxing, China

A new chapter for two decades of Chinese operations

ESTEVE CDMO, the contract development and manufacturing organization of Spanish pharmaceutical company ESTEVE, has committed an investment exceeding USD 80 million to relocate, expand and modernize its manufacturing operations in China, anchoring them at a new site in Shaoxing.

The announcement, made on 21 October 2026, marks what the company describes as the beginning of a new chapter in a manufacturing presence in the country that stretches back more than two decades.

Long-Term Commitment and Strategic Expansion

ESTEVE first entered China in 2000 with the establishment of its initial joint venture, and the company presents this latest move as a continuation of that long-term commitment to the region. The China operations, according to the company, form part of its global technology platform and complement capabilities across an established manufacturing network spanning Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

The Shaoxing site is positioned as the latest step in a strategy focused on bringing manufacturing capacity closer to customers in Asia while retaining the expertise of a network that reaches across three continents.

Inside the Shaoxing facility

The new site comprises three manufacturing workshops with a combined reaction volume of 250 m³. Significantly, more than 150 m³ of that volume is being held in reserve for future development, which means the facility's total reaction volume could ultimately exceed 400 m³ as customer demand and manufacturing needs evolve.

The company states that the Shaoxing investment significantly expands its manufacturing capabilities in Asia, pointing to the combination of increased capacity, advanced technologies, and built-in flexibility for growth as the defining features of the project.

Through its integrated footprint, ESTEVE CDMO offers technologies including spray drying and HPAPI manufacturing. These capabilities, the company notes, are designed to support the increasingly complex requirements of small-molecule API development and manufacturing for customers across China, Asia, and international markets.

Leadership frames the investment within a global ambition

Joan Petit, President of ESTEVE CDMO, positioned the Shaoxing commitment as a building block in the organization's longer-term trajectory. "This investment is an important step in the sustained growth of ESTEVE CDMO and our global manufacturing platform," Petit said. "Strengthening our presence in China allows us to bring our capabilities closer to customers in Asia while leveraging the expertise of our global network."

Petit went further in outlining the organization's broader direction, stating that the company's ambition is "to build a leading global CDMO business with the capabilities and flexibility to support our partners worldwide." He described the driving purpose behind the business as "making a difference for patients and contributing to our shared purpose of improving lives together."

Spanish consulate weighs in

The announcement also drew endorsement from Spain's diplomatic representation in China. Francisco de Asís Benítez Salas, Consul General of Spain in Shanghai, welcomed the move.

"It is a privilege to witness ESTEVE's continued commitment to China and the region," he said. "This investment is a clear example of the value that long-term commitment, expertise, and innovation can bring to the local community."

Sustainability credentials designed in from the start

Environmental, health, and safety considerations have been integrated into both the design and the operation of the new facility. The site has achieved a "Very Good" rating under BREEAM, the sustainability assessment method, which the company says recognizes its performance in responsible design and operation. In a further indication of that performance, the project has also been selected as a candidate for the BREEAM China Awards.

These measures sit within ESTEVE's wider corporate commitments. The company links its approach to its B Corp Certification, citing high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and responsible business practices as central to how it operates.

What the investment means for the wider platform

For ESTEVE CDMO, the Shaoxing site serves as more than a capacity addition. According to the company, the continued development of its manufacturing platform strengthens its capabilities, technology, and international reach, supporting the long-term needs of pharmaceutical partners.

The investment combines several threads the company emphasizes: expanded physical capacity with room to grow, a technology offering aimed at increasingly demanding small-molecule projects, and a location intended to place production closer to Asian customers.

The company presents the move as consistent with its established network in Europe, the Americas, and Asia, in which China operations have played a role since 2000. With more than 20 years of manufacturing history in the country now carried into a modernized facility, ESTEVE CDMO describes the Shaoxing site as strengthening its global manufacturing footprint while deepening its regional presence.

The announcement of 21 October 2026, with its headline commitment of more than USD 80 million, brings together those strands: a modern three-workshop site with 250 m³ of reaction volume and potential to exceed 400 m³, sustainability ratings embedded in its design, and the stated ambition of supporting partners worldwide from a platform that now has an expanded Asian anchor.