Top 10 Silymarin Suppliers, Manufacturers, Wholesalers, and Traders in Iceland

Founded in 2001, Arctic Milk Thistle Extracts (AMTE) is often called the "pioneer of Icelandic silymarin." What began as a small family-run farm in Reykjavik's suburbs has grown into a global leader, supplying over 30 countries with premium silymarin. AMTE's secret? A focus on milk thistle extract that's both potent and pure—their flagship product is a 80% silymarin extract that's become a gold standard for supplement brands.

AMTE sources its milk thistle from organic farms in southern Iceland, where the plants thrive in the long summer days and mineral-rich volcanic soil. The extraction process uses cold-press technology to preserve silymarin's bioactivity, and every batch undergoes third-party testing for heavy metals, pesticides, and microbial contaminants. As a botanical extracts manufacturer , AMTE also offers custom formulations, including silymarin blends with other liver-supporting herbs like dandelion and artichoke.

Certifications: ISO 9001 (quality management), GMP (good manufacturing practices), and Organic EU. Their Reykjavik facility runs on 100% geothermal energy, aligning with Iceland's commitment to sustainability. Clients rave about their reliability—AMTE guarantees 48-hour shipping for European orders and offers flexible bulk pricing for large-scale buyers.

Nordic Botanical Labs, based in the scenic town of Akureyri, has made a name for itself with innovation. Founded in 2010 by a team of biochemists, the company specializes in cold-pressed silymarin extraction—a method that uses minimal heat to retain the compound's antioxidant properties. The result? A silymarin extract with 90% bioavailability, making it a favorite among pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies.

Unlike many suppliers, Nordic Botanical Labs controls the entire supply chain: from growing milk thistle in their own greenhouses (powered by geothermal heating) to extracting and packaging the final product. This vertical integration ensures consistency, which is why their bulk botanical extracts are trusted by brands in over 50 countries. They also offer a unique "traceability portal" where clients can track their order from seed to shipment.

Certifications: ISO 14001 (environmental management), Kosher, and Halal. Nordic Botanical Labs is particularly popular in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, thanks to their strict adherence to religious dietary standards. Their Akureyri facility is also zero-waste, with leftover plant material repurposed as organic fertilizer for local farms.

For over two decades, Iceland Pure Extracts Co. (IPEC) has been a go-to for pharmaceutical-grade ingredients. Founded in 1998, this Kópavogur-based company focuses exclusively on high-purity silymarin, with offerings ranging from 85% to 95% concentration. Their extracts are used in prescription medications and clinical trials, thanks to their rigorous testing protocols and compliance with global regulatory standards.

IPEC's facility is FDA-registered and EMA-compliant, with a state-of-the-art lab that conducts over 20 quality checks per batch. They source milk thistle from ｓｅｌｅｃｔ farms in Iceland's Golden Circle region, where the cool climate slows growth, allowing silymarin to accumulate in the seeds. The extraction process uses supercritical CO2, which avoids chemical solvents and yields a highly concentrated extract.

Certifications: EMA (European Medicines Agency) approval, FDA-registered, ISO 22000 (food safety). IPEC's client list includes some of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, and they offer technical support to help brands navigate regulatory hurdles in different markets. While their minimum order quantities are higher (100kg+), the investment is worth it for companies prioritizing pharmaceutical-grade quality.

Nestled near Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier, Vatnajökull Naturals embodies Iceland's wild, untamed spirit. Founded in 2015 by a group of environmentalists, the company specializes in organic, wild-harvested milk thistle—plants that grow naturally in the region's river valleys and are hand-picked by local foragers. This commitment to wild sourcing gives their organic botanical extracts a unique flavor and potency that's hard to replicate with farm-grown crops.

Vatnajökull's silymarin extract is certified USDA Organic and Biodynamic, meaning no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are used at any stage. The extraction process is low-impact: they use cold water and gentle filtration to preserve the plant's natural compounds, resulting in a dark green extract that's rich in not just silymarin, but also flavonoids and fatty acids. This full-spectrum approach has made their products popular with holistic health brands and natural skincare lines.

Certifications: USDA Organic, Biodynamic, and Fair Trade (ensuring foragers receive fair wages). Vatnajökull Naturals is a small-batch producer, with most orders shipping to North America and Australia. Their minimum order quantity is just 5kg, making them accessible to small businesses and startups. For eco-conscious buyers, they also offer carbon-neutral shipping and recyclable packaging.

As the name suggests, Reykjavik Bulk Traders (RBT) is all about scale. Founded in 2005, this Reykjavik-based company specializes in bulk botanical extracts , with silymarin being their top-selling product. RBT works with a network of 12 milk thistle farms across Iceland, ensuring a steady supply even during peak demand. Their 10,000 sq.m facility can process up to 500kg of milk thistle seeds daily, making them one of Iceland's largest silymarin exporters.

RBT's sweet spot is mid-to-large orders (50kg to 5,000kg), with pricing that's competitive for the quality. They offer both standard silymarin (80-85% purity) and pharmaceutical-grade (90%+) options, and their lab provides free COA (Certificate of Analysis) for every shipment. What sets RBT apart is their logistics expertise—they've partnered with major freight companies to offer door-to-door delivery, including customs clearance for international orders.

Certifications: GMP, FSSAI (Indian food safety), and HACCP (hazard analysis critical control points). RBT's clients include supplement manufacturers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and they're known for their fast turnaround times—most bulk orders ship within 72 hours. For new buyers, they offer sample sizes (1kg) at cost to test quality before committing to large orders.

Located in the remote Westfjords region, Westfjords Botanical Exports is a hidden gem for high-purity silymarin. Founded in 2008, the company serves niche markets like medical device coatings and premium skincare, where silymarin's antioxidant properties are valued for their ability to protect cells from damage. Their star product is a 95% silymarin extract that's so pure, it's used in research labs studying liver disease.

Westfjords uses a proprietary extraction method that combines ethanol washing and centrifugation to isolate silymarin from milk thistle seeds. The process is time-consuming—each batch takes 72 hours to produce—but the result is a white powder with minimal impurities. They also offer custom blends, including silymarin nanoparticles for enhanced skin penetration (a hit with cosmetic formulators).

Certifications: ISO 13485 (medical device quality), OHSAS 18001 (occupational health), and REACH (chemical safety). While their prices are higher than bulk suppliers, Westfjords caters to buyers who prioritize precision and performance. Their Ísafjörður facility is ISO-cleanroom certified, and they offer technical support to help clients integrate their silymarin into complex formulations.

Hveragerði, known as Iceland's "hot spring capital," is home to Geothermal Extract Works—a company that leverages the region's geothermal energy to power its extraction process. Founded in 2012, they're on a mission to prove that sustainability and scalability can go hand in hand. Their silymarin extract is dried using geothermal heat, reducing carbon emissions by 60% compared to traditional drying methods.

Geothermal Extract Works sources milk thistle from farms that use geothermal greenhouses, allowing for year-round cultivation. This consistency in supply has made them a reliable partner for brands with steady demand. Their product line includes both standard silymarin (80% purity) and a "sustainability bundle"—bulk extracts packaged in reusable steel drums that the company picks up and refills, cutting down on plastic waste.

Certifications: Carbon-Neutral Certified, GMP, and EU Ecolabel. Geothermal Extract Works ships primarily to EU countries, Canada, and Japan, where sustainability is a key purchasing factor. Their Hveragerði facility offers tours, giving clients a firsthand look at their eco-friendly process. For large orders, they also provide carbon offset certificates to help brands meet their ESG goals.

Sólheimar Organics is more than a supplier—it's a community. Located in the intentional community of Sólheimar (which means "Sun World"), the company was founded in 1983 as a way to provide employment for people with disabilities. Today, their small team grows, harvests, and extracts milk thistle using traditional methods, creating botanical extracts that are as much about social impact as they are about quality.

Sólheimar's milk thistle is grown in their community garden, using compost from the on-site eco-village. The extraction is done in small copper stills, a method that's been passed down through generations of Icelandic herbalists. The result is a thick, syrupy extract with a earthy aroma and a mild, sweet taste—perfect for adding to teas, tinctures, and oral supplements.

Certifications: Demeter Certified (biodynamic farming), Fair Trade, and B Corp (meeting high standards of social and environmental performance). Sólheimar Organics primarily serves the Icelandic market, with a few ｓｅｌｅｃｔ partners in Europe. Their products are sold in specialty health stores and at local farmers' markets, and they offer guided workshops on herbal extraction for visitors to the community.

Named after Iceland's most active volcano, Hekla Pharma Ingredients is a powerhouse in the pharmaceutical raw materials industry. Founded in 2003, the company specializes in API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) grade silymarin—extracts that meet the strictest purity and potency standards set by global health authorities. Their products are used in prescription medications for liver conditions like cirrhosis and hepatitis, as well as in clinical trials for new drug development.

Hekla's facility in Hveragerði is PIC/S GMP certified, meaning it adheres to the highest international standards for pharmaceutical manufacturing. They use advanced HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) to test silymarin content, ensuring each batch is within 0.5% of the labeled purity (typically 90-95%). The extraction process is fully automated, with computer-controlled parameters to eliminate human error.

Certifications: EMA (European Medicines Agency) approval, FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) registration, and PIC/S GMP. Hekla Pharma works directly with pharmaceutical companies, offering technical dossiers, stability testing, and regulatory support. Their minimum order quantity is 50kg, but they provide dedicated account managers to guide clients through the complex process of integrating silymarin into drug formulations.

Rounding out our list is Þingvellir Extract Traders, a young company (founded in 2018) that's making waves with its focus on transparency and customization. Based in Selfoss, near Iceland's famous Þingvellir National Park, the company works with clients to create tailor-made silymarin solutions—whether it's a water-soluble extract for beverages, a micronized powder for skincare, or a slow-release formulation for supplements.

Þingvellir sources milk thistle from a cooperative of small-scale farmers in southern Iceland, ensuring fair prices and sustainable practices. Their lab is equipped with state-of-the-art formulation tools, including microencapsulation technology that can coat silymarin particles to protect them from stomach acid (increasing bioavailability). They also offer rapid prototyping—clients can receive sample formulations in as little as 10 days.

Certifications: ISO 9001, FSSAI, and Halal. Þingvellir's clients are primarily in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, regions where they've built a reputation for flexibility and innovation. They offer competitive pricing for custom orders and provide free COA and MSDS documents with every shipment. For startups, they also offer low minimum order quantities (1kg for custom formulations) and product development consulting.