China Resources Ng Fung Limited (CR Ng Fung)

Founded in 1951 in Hong Kong. Subsidiary of China Resources (CR) Group — Chinese state-owned conglomerate. One of the largest food distributors in Hong Kong and Greater China, with international fresh fruit distribution operations including the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Imports fresh apples under HS 0808.10. Listed parent on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

📋 Company Profile (TurkExim Card)

📖 About China Resources Ng Fung Limited

China Resources Ng Fung Limited (CR Ng Fung) — Chinese name 華潤五豐有限公司 — was founded in 1951 in Hong Kong as a food distribution enterprise under what is today the China Resources (CR) Group, one of mainland China's largest state-owned conglomerates and a Fortune Global 500 company. The company has historically served as one of Hong Kong's largest food distributors, with a leading position in fresh meat, frozen meat, and Chinese specialty food distribution for the Hong Kong market. Over seven decades, CR Ng Fung has expanded into a multi-sector integrated food enterprise operating across mainland China, Hong Kong, and international markets.

The company's core business now spans: (1) fresh fruits & vegetables — including the fresh apple import & distribution business covered by this profile; (2) meat production and distribution — fresh meat (供港鮮肉), frozen meat (凍肉), Chinese specialty foods (中國特色食品); (3) branded packaged foods — 五豐黎紅 pepper oil, 五豐富春 pastries, 五豐冷食 frozen foods, 五豐 rice noodles; (4) modern agriculture — owned farming and processing operations; (5) imported foods agency & distribution — representing international food brands for distribution into China, Hong Kong, and Korea.

CR Ng Fung operates four large meat processing centers and maintains cold storage and meat trading markets in Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Nanning, and Ningbo. The flagship brand 五豐行 (Ng Fung Hong) is recognized as a "China Time-Honored Brand" (中華老字號) — a designation reserved for established Chinese commercial brands with multi-generational heritage. The company is also active in international fruit trade through strategic equity stakes such as its 15.38% stake in Scales Corporation — a New Zealand-based apple and apple-derived products exporter acquired in March 2016 for approximately NZ$56 million, giving CR Ng Fung direct access to Southern Hemisphere apple supply.

🍎 Fresh Apple Import Operations into Korea Republic

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) is one of the most self-sufficient developed economies in fresh apple production — Korean-grown Fuji apples dominate the domestic market with an annual production of approximately 430,000–460,000 tonnes (2023–2025) cultivated mainly in Yesan (South Chungcheong), Daegu, and Gyeongsang provinces. However, Korea still imports ~18,000–22,000 tonnes of fresh apples annually (HS 0808.10) to cover off-season demand (April–August when Korean stock is depleted), specialty varieties (Pink Lady, Royal Gala, Honeycrisp), and institutional/foodservice channels that demand year-round supply.

Korea's fresh apple imports are sourced primarily from: 🇺🇸 United States (Washington State — Gala, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious — ~45% share), 🇳🇿 New Zealand (Royal Gala, Pink Lady, Jazz — ~22% share, counter-seasonal), 🇨🇳 China (Fuji, Qinguan — ~18% share, primarily via Hong Kong redistribution), 🇯🇵 Japan (limited specialty Fuji — ~8%), 🇦🇺 Australia (Pink Lady, Royal Gala — ~5%), and 🇨🇱 Chile (counter-seasonal supply — ~2%).

China Resources Ng Fung Limited (CR Ng Fung) enters the Korean fresh apple import market via two integrated channels: (1) China-sourced apple exports — using its deep mainland China logistics infrastructure to source Chinese-grown Fuji and Qinguan apples from Shandong, Shaanxi, and Xinjiang provinces for shipment to Korean ports (mainly Incheon, Busan, and Pyeongtaek); and (2) Scales Corporation-sourced New Zealand apples — leveraging its 15.38% strategic equity stake in New Zealand's leading apple exporter to bring counter-seasonal Royal Gala, Pink Lady, and Jazz varieties to Korean retail chains (Lotte Mart, E-mart, Homeplus, Costco Korea) and HORECA buyers during the Northern Hemisphere spring-summer window when Korean domestic supply is limited.

🏷️ HS Code for Fresh Apple Imports to Korea

Source: WCO Harmonized System 2022 + Korea Customs Service Tariff Schedule. Korea applies strict phytosanitary controls under Korea Plant Quarantine Act — all fresh apple imports require MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) phytosanitary certificate and KNPQA pest risk analysis for the country of origin.

🌍 Fresh Apple Supply Chain to Korea

CR Ng Fung's fresh apple supply chain to Korea Republic involves three regional sourcing corridors, each with its own logistics and seasonality profile:

• 🇨🇳 China sourcing corridor (Shandong, Shaanxi, Xinjiang → Hong Kong/Shenzhen → Incheon) — Chinese Fuji and Qinguan apples harvested September-November; chilled transport to Hong Kong and Shenzhen consolidation; re-export via refrigerated sea container (Hong Kong → Incheon, 4-6 days) or air freight (Shenzhen Bao'an → Incheon, 4 hours) for premium/varietal apples. Year-round supply with peak October-March window.
• 🇳🇿 New Zealand sourcing corridor (Hawke's Bay, Nelson → Hong Kong transit → Busan/Pyeongtaek) — Scales Corporation-controlled orchards in Hawke's Bay (New Zealand's leading apple region) ship counter-seasonal Royal Gala, Pink Lady, Jazz varieties from April to September (Korean spring-summer peak demand window). Refrigerated reefer containers via New Zealand → Hong Kong → Korea transhipment, ~25-30 days total transit. Premium pricing segment.
• 🇺🇸 US-sourced apples (when contracted) — Washington State Gala and Honeycrisp via Hong Kong redistribution; typically shipped April-August when Korean domestic stock is depleted.

All imports arrive at one of Korea's three designated phytosanitary entry ports: Incheon Port (largest apple import port, close to Seoul), Busan Port (south coast, serves Gyeongsang retail market), or Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port (rapid-growth western port). Korean customs require all fresh apple imports to carry a phytosanitary certificate from origin country and pass MAFF inspection at the Korean port of entry — CR Ng Fung maintains approved establishment status with all major origins and uses approved Korean customs brokers.

🏛️ Parent Company — China Resources Group

CR Ng Fung's parent — China Resources (Holdings) Co., Ltd. (CR Group / 华润集团) — is one of mainland China's largest state-owned conglomerates, headquartered in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Founded in 1938, CR Group operates across five core businesses: consumer goods (Ng Fung food, China Resources Beer/Snow Beer, China Resources Retail Vanguard), power (China Resources Power), real estate (China Resources Land / CR Land), cement (China Resources Cement), and finance (China Resources Finance / Bank of Jinzhou). CR Group is a Fortune Global 500 company ranked in the top 80 globally, with consolidated revenue exceeding US$ 100 billion annually.

Within CR Group, Ng Fung's role as the integrated food subsidiary means that fresh apple imports into Korea can leverage group resources including: China Resources Logistics (cold chain infrastructure), China Resources Vanguard retail chain (~3,000+ stores across China — Korea distribution via sister JV channels), China Resources Beer (Snow Beer — the world's largest beer brand by volume, complementary HORECA access), and China Resources Capital (trade finance, L/C issuance). This group-level integration gives CR Ng Fung a structurally unique position compared to standalone Korean apple importers.

💡 For Fresh Apple Exporters Targeting Korea via CR Ng Fung

International fresh apple exporters — particularly growers in Washington State (USA), Hawke's Bay/Nelson (New Zealand), Victoria/South Australia (Australia), and Chinese provinces (Shandong, Shaanxi, Xinjiang) — will find CR Ng Fung a strategic distribution partner into the Korean market. The company's combination of CR Group logistics, Scales Corporation supply chain integration, and Korea retail access makes it one of the few importers with full multi-origin sourcing and year-round distribution capability.

Key engagement points: (1) Direct contact via CR Ng Fung's corporate HQ in Shenzhen (+86 755 8266 2968) — Korean import business handled through the Hong Kong/New Territories office; (2) Asia Fruit Logistica (Hong Kong) — annual trade fair where CR Ng Fung's procurement team is present; (3) Scales Corporation (New Zealand) for Southern Hemisphere apple varieties; (4) MAFF Korea — pre-qualification of origin country phytosanitary system is the absolute prerequisite before any commercial dialogue can begin. Korean importer-of-record documentation and CR Ng Fung's Korea customs broker liaison must be completed before first shipment.

TurkExim — Korean Fresh Apple Importer B/L Database

Need customs declaration (B/L) data for CR Ng Fung and other Korean fresh apple importers? TurkExim Data Desk offers the complete importer database with B/L records for HS code 0808.10 — with supplier countries (USA, New Zealand, China, Japan, Australia, Chile), import volumes, declared values, ports of entry (Incheon, Busan, Pyeongtaek), and consignee company names. Excel/CSV formats. WhatsApp for pricing.