Guangnan wins market

Guangnan (Holdings), parent of Guangnan Hong, said it had taken a 40 per cent share of Hong Kong's live pig supply market six months after it was permitted to enter the once-monopolised sector.

Guangnan Hong supplies 1,600 to 1,700 live pigs to the city every day and has recorded 'a very obvious' contribution to the company's bottom line, said deputy chairman Li Li, without giving an exact figure.

Ng Fung Hong, the food products subsidiary of red-chip China Resources Enterprise, had a monopoly on all imports of live mainland swine into Hong Kong since the 1950s when it was appointed sole agent by the Ministry of Commerce.

Guangnan Hong was announced as the city's second live pig distributor in July last year and began operations in December, Mr Li said.

Hong Kong now has three live pig suppliers - Ng Fung Hong, Guangnan Hong and the Agriculture Special Zone Development Association.

'Guangnan started supplying food products to Hong Kong a long time ago and the wholesale pork trade is giving us a new lease of life,' said chairman Liang Jiang. 'However, tinplate production will remain our core business and we are striving to expand further.'