Research on the Development and Internationalization Strategies of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Latin America

Abstract

Driven by both the upgrading of global health needs and the increasing prominence of Traditional Chinese Medicine's (TCM) own advantages, the "going global" process of TCM continues to accelerate, and its international recognition is gradually improving. AgeClub data shows that the global TCM market size reached US$29.1 billion in 2024, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% from 2025 to 2034, with emerging markets becoming the core growth point for TCM companies going global. Latin America, as an emerging market that values traditional medicine and is rich in medicinal plant resources, has a high degree of synergy with China's TCM industry and has become a "new blue ocean" for TCM internationalization. In recent years, cooperation between China and Latin America in the field of TCM has deepened, with many countries signing cooperation agreements and establishing overseas TCM centers. Acupuncture and other TCM therapies have become widely popular locally. However, the expansion of TCM in the Latin American market still faces multiple challenges, including insufficient modernization, weak international competitiveness, and obstacles to market expansion. This article, based on the core viewpoints of the original text, systematically analyzes the fundamental conditions and existing problems of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in expanding into the Latin American market. Combining the realities of China-Latin America cooperation and the industry's development trends, it proposes targeted countermeasures and suggestions, providing theoretical support and practical guidance for seizing opportunities in the Latin American market, solving development challenges, and promoting the high-quality internationalization and development of TCM.