If you've ever reached for a liver support supplement or a natural wellness product, there's a good chance silymarin was one of the key ingredients. Extracted from the seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum), this powerful flavonoid complex has been trusted for decades to support liver health, and its popularity continues to grow in pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, and even skincare formulations. But for businesses—whether you're a small supplement brand or a large pharmaceutical company—finding a reliable silymarin supplier is critical. Quality, consistency, and ethical sourcing can make or break your product's success. That's where Uruguay comes into the picture.
Uruguay, often praised for its fertile lands and strict agricultural standards, has quietly emerged as a hub for botanical extracts. With a focus on sustainable farming and rigorous quality control, the country's manufacturers are gaining global recognition for producing high-grade silymarin and milk thistle extract. In this guide, we'll introduce you to the top 10 silymarin suppliers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and traders in Uruguay—companies that blend traditional botanical expertise with modern extraction technology to deliver products you can trust.
Why Uruguay Stands Out in Silymarin Supply
Uruguay's rise in the botanical extract industry isn't accidental. The country's temperate climate and nutrient-rich soil create ideal conditions for growing milk thistle, ensuring potent, high-quality raw material. Beyond farming, Uruguayan suppliers prioritize transparency: many work directly with local farmers to monitor crop health, and most invest in state-of-the-art extraction facilities to preserve silymarin's bioactivity. Additionally, strict regulatory frameworks—aligned with international standards like ISO and GMP—mean products here often meet or exceed pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry requirements. For businesses seeking bulk botanical extracts or specialized formulations, Uruguay offers a unique mix of quality, reliability, and accessibility.
Top 10 Silymarin Suppliers in Uruguay
1. Montevideo Botanical Extracts Ltd.
Established: 2005
Location: Montevideo
Montevideo Botanical Extracts (MBE) is one of Uruguay's oldest and most respected botanical extracts manufacturers. Specializing in milk thistle extract and silymarin, MBE prides itself on a vertically integrated supply chain: from partnering with 20+ local farms to grow organic milk thistle to operating a 15,000 sq. ft. extraction facility in Montevideo. Their silymarin products range from 70% to 95% purity, with options for both powder and liquid formulations.
What sets MBE apart? Their commitment to sustainability. The company uses solar-powered extraction equipment and recycles 90% of its water, making them a favorite among eco-conscious brands. They also offer bulk botanical extracts in quantities from 1kg to 500kg, with customizable packaging for international shipping. Certifications include ISO 9001, GMP, and organic certification from Ecocert.
Key Products: Pharmaceutical-grade silymarin (95% purity), organic milk thistle extract powder, bulk silymarin for supplements.
2. Uruguay Natural Ingredients (UNI)
Established: 2010
Location: Salto
Nestled in Uruguay's agricultural heartland, Uruguay Natural Ingredients (UNI) focuses on high-potency silymarin and milk thistle extract for the global market. With a team of biochemists and agronomists, UNI has developed a proprietary extraction process that preserves 98% of silymarin's active compounds, making their products a top choice for pharmaceutical companies.
UNI's facility is equipped with HPLC and GC testing labs, ensuring every batch meets strict purity standards. They specialize in bulk orders—minimum 100kg for powder, 500L for liquid—and offer fast turnaround times (typically 5–7 days for domestic orders, 10–14 days internationally). Their clientele includes major supplement brands in Europe and North America, drawn to their competitive pricing and consistent quality.
Key Products: Silymarin 80% powder, standardized milk thistle extract, bulk botanical extracts for food supplements.
3. River Plate Extract Traders
Established: 2012
Location: Colonia
River Plate Extract Traders is a family-owned business with deep roots in Uruguay's botanical industry. While they trade in a range of botanical extracts, their silymarin and milk thistle extract lines are their claim to fame. What makes them unique? They partner with small-scale farmers in the Colonia region, ensuring fair prices and supporting local communities.
River Plate offers both conventional and organic silymarin, with purity levels from 60% to 95%. Their bulk options are flexible—they accommodate orders as small as 500g for startups and as large as 1 ton for industrial clients. They also provide custom formulations, such as silymarin blended with other liver-supporting herbs like artichoke extract. Certifications include GMP and Kosher, and they're currently working toward Halal certification to expand into Middle Eastern markets.
Key Products: Organic milk thistle extract, bulk silymarin powder, custom herbal blends with silymarin.
4. Uruguayan Herbal Solutions (UHS)
Established: 2015
Location: Paysandú
Uruguayan Herbal Solutions (UHS) is a rising star in the industry, known for its innovative approach to silymarin extraction. Using cold-press technology, they minimize heat exposure during processing, resulting in silymarin with higher bioavailability—a key selling point for nutraceutical brands. Their facility, located near the Uruguay River, sources milk thistle from farms within a 50km radius, ensuring fresh raw material.
UHS specializes in pharmaceutical-grade silymarin, with a focus on 90% and 95% purity powders. They also offer a "premium line" of micronized silymarin, which dissolves faster and is ideal for liquid supplements and skincare serums. Wholesale customers appreciate their dedicated account managers, who provide real-time updates on order status and help with logistics. Certifications include ISO 22000 (food safety) and GMP.
Key Products: Micronized silymarin 95%, pharmaceutical-grade milk thistle extract, bulk liquid silymarin.
5. Atlantic Coast Botanicals
Established: 2008
Location: Maldonado
Located along Uruguay's scenic Atlantic coast, Atlantic Coast Botanicals combines coastal breezes with cutting-edge extraction to produce some of the country's most sought-after silymarin. The company's focus is on high-volume wholesale, making them a go-to for large supplement manufacturers and cosmetic brands. Their 30,000 sq. ft. facility can process up to 10 tons of milk thistle seeds monthly, yielding 1 ton of pure silymarin.
Atlantic Coast offers a range of silymarin products, including standard powder (70–80% purity), oil-soluble silymarin for skincare, and water-soluble silymarin for beverages. They also provide comprehensive documentation with every order, including COA (Certificate of Analysis) and MSDS, to simplify regulatory compliance. Their client base spans North America, Europe, and Asia, with repeat customers citing consistent quality and competitive pricing.
Key Products: Oil-soluble silymarin, water-soluble milk thistle extract, bulk silymarin powder (70–80% purity).
6. Southern Cross Extracts
Established: 2013
Location: Tacuarembó
Southern Cross Extracts is a boutique supplier with a niche: organic, wild-harvested milk thistle extract. Operating in the rural Tacuarembó region, they work with indigenous communities to collect milk thistle seeds from natural meadows, ensuring the plants are never overharvested. This commitment to ethical sourcing has earned them certifications from Fair Trade and the Rainforest Alliance.
Their silymarin products are 100% organic, with purity levels up to 85%. While they don't offer the highest volume (maximum bulk order is 200kg), they cater to premium brands willing to pay a premium for sustainably sourced ingredients. Southern Cross also provides educational materials for clients, including case studies on the benefits of wild-harvested silymarin, to help with marketing efforts.
Key Products: Organic wild-harvested silymarin, milk thistle extract for luxury cosmetics, small-batch bulk silymarin.
7. Uruguay Pharma Extracts
Established: 2011
Location: Montevideo
As the name suggests, Uruguay Pharma Extracts (UPE) focuses solely on pharmaceutical-grade botanical extracts, with silymarin as their flagship product. Their facility is audited by the Uruguayan Ministry of Health and complies with FDA standards, making them a trusted partner for pharmaceutical companies developing liver medications.
UPE's silymarin is available in 95% purity, with strict heavy metal and pesticide limits (below 0.1ppm). They offer both powder and granulated forms, with the latter being popular for tablet manufacturing. Bulk orders start at 50kg, and they provide temperature-controlled shipping to ensure product stability. For clients with specific needs, UPE also offers custom particle size adjustments and blending with other active ingredients.
Key Products: Pharmaceutical-grade silymarin 95%, granulated milk thistle extract, custom silymarin blends.
8. Green Harvest Extracts
Established: 2017
Location: Durazno
Green Harvest Extracts is a family-run business that started as a small farm and expanded into extraction. Today, they grow their own milk thistle on 100 acres of land in Durazno, giving them full control over the supply chain. This hands-on approach ensures consistent quality, as they can monitor everything from soil health to harvest timing.
Specializing in bulk botanical extracts, Green Harvest offers silymarin in 70–90% purity, with a focus on affordability. They're particularly popular with startups and small-to-medium brands, thanks to their low minimum order (1kg) and flexible payment terms. Their product line also includes milk thistle seed oil, a byproduct of extraction that's used in skincare and haircare products. Certifications include organic (USDA and EU) and GMP.
Key Products: Budget-friendly silymarin powder, organic milk thistle seed oil, bulk milk thistle extract for supplements.
9. Oriental Uruguay Trading Co.
Established: 2003
Location: Montevideo
Oriental Uruguay Trading Co. (OUTC) is a trader with a global network, connecting Uruguayan silymarin manufacturers to buyers in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. While they don't produce extracts themselves, their deep industry knowledge and strict vetting process make them a reliable partner for businesses new to the Uruguayan market.
OUTC works with 5+ local manufacturers to offer a wide range of silymarin products, from standard 70% powder to specialty formulations like enteric-coated silymarin. They handle all logistics, including customs clearance and shipping, and offer competitive bulk pricing for large orders (1 ton+). Their multilingual team (fluent in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Portuguese) ensures smooth communication with international clients.
Key Services: Silymarin sourcing, bulk order coordination, international logistics, quality inspection.
10. Bioactive Botanicals Uruguay
Established: 2014
Location: Rivera
Bioactive Botanicals Uruguay (BBU) rounds out our list with a focus on research and development. Their team of scientists collaborates with the University of the Republic to study silymarin's potential beyond liver health, including its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This innovation translates into unique products, like their "Silymarin Plus" blend, which combines silymarin with green tea extract for enhanced benefits.
BBU's core silymarin offerings include 85% and 95% purity powders, with a focus on small-batch, high-quality production. They also offer contract manufacturing services, helping brands develop custom supplements and cosmetics using their silymarin. Wholesale clients benefit from free samples (up to 50g) to test product compatibility. Certifications include ISO 17025 (testing laboratory) and GMP.
Key Products: Silymarin Plus blend, research-grade silymarin, custom supplement formulation with silymarin.
Comparison Table: Top Silymarin Suppliers in Uruguay
| Supplier Name | Established | Key Products | Purity Range | Bulk Order Min. | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montevideo Botanical Extracts Ltd. | 2005 | Organic milk thistle extract, silymarin powder | 70–95% | 1kg | ISO 9001, GMP, Ecocert |
| Uruguay Natural Ingredients | 2010 | Pharmaceutical-grade silymarin, milk thistle extract | 70–95% | 100kg | GMP, ISO 9001 |
| River Plate Extract Traders | 2012 | Organic silymarin, custom herbal blends | 60–95% | 500g | GMP, Kosher |
| Uruguayan Herbal Solutions | 2015 | Micronized silymarin, liquid silymarin | 90–95% | 50kg | ISO 22000, GMP |
| Atlantic Coast Botanicals | 2008 | Oil-soluble silymarin, water-soluble silymarin | 70–80% | 100kg | ISO 22000, GMP |
| Southern Cross Extracts | 2013 | Wild-harvested organic silymarin | 70–85% | 10kg | Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance |
| Uruguay Pharma Extracts | 2011 | Pharmaceutical-grade silymarin 95% | 95% | 50kg | FDA-compliant, GMP |
| Green Harvest Extracts | 2017 | Budget-friendly silymarin, milk thistle seed oil | 70–90% | 1kg | USDA Organic, GMP |
| Oriental Uruguay Trading Co. | 2003 | Silymarin sourcing, logistics | Varies by supplier | 1 ton | N/A (trading company) |
| Bioactive Botanicals Uruguay | 2014 | Silymarin Plus blend, research-grade silymarin | 85–95% | 5kg | ISO 17025, GMP |
Choosing the Right Silymarin Supplier for Your Business
Selecting a silymarin supplier in Uruguay depends on your unique needs. If sustainability is a priority, Montevideo Botanical Extracts or Southern Cross Extracts might be your best bet. For pharmaceutical-grade purity, Uruguay Pharma Extracts or Uruguayan Herbal Solutions stand out. Startups and small brands may prefer Green Harvest Extracts or River Plate Extract Traders for their low minimum orders, while large-scale manufacturers will benefit from Atlantic Coast Botanicals' high-volume capabilities.
No matter which supplier you choose, prioritize transparency: ask for batch test reports, visit their facilities if possible, and inquire about their raw material sourcing. With Uruguay's reputation for quality and the right partner by your side, you can feel confident that your silymarin-based products will meet the highest standards—supporting both your business success and your customers' health.
