China National Native Produce & Animal By-Products Import & Export company (CNNP)-Yunnan Tea company

CNNP (中茶) : CNNP (Which is stands for and is short for China National Native Produce & Animal By-Products Import & Export company) was the original state-run enterprise that managed all of the major tea factories in Yunnan, including Menghai, Xiaguan, Kunming, among others. Most of these were privatized in the 1980s and 1990s, but CNNP runs under the label ‘Chinatea’ and still uses the original red and green ‘中茶’ logo. This red and green logo is perhaps the longest-used logo in the Pu-erh tea world. Now it is said that CNNP is trying to make a comeback and are mostly focused on direct competition with the Menghai Tea Factory.

China National Native Produce & Animal By-Products Import & Export Company (CNNP) – Yunnan Tea Company (中国土产畜产进出口总公司云南省茶叶分公司) was founded on December 31, 1981. It operates as a subsidiary of China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO) and is primarily involved in the import and export of tea, coffee, and other commodities, as well as tea production and processing.

Company Overview

Establishment and Ownership

  • Founded: December 31, 1981

  • Registered Capital: 43.55 million RMB

  • Legal Representative: Song Yigong (宋谊功) (appointed on October 23, 2024)

  • Business Type: State-owned, fully public-owned enterprise, under COFCO Group

  • Company Status: Active and operational

  • Enterprise Scale: Small-sized company (as of 2024)

  • Headquarters: Located in Kunming (昆明), Yunnan Province (云南省), in the eastern suburbs of the city, at Paomashan (跑马山).

Subsidiaries and Branches

  • Kunming Tea Factory (昆明茶厂), established on June 25, 1991, holds 15 patents (as of 2024).

  • Yunnan Tea Factory (云南茶厂), established on December 9, 1991, has been deregistered.

  • Economic and Trade Department and General Trade Department, both now deregistered.

Business Operations

Core Business

  • Imports and Exports: Specializes in the import and export of tea, coffee, and other products under the national quota license management system.

  • Tea Production and Processing: Focuses on the production and processing of Pu’er tea (普洱茶), black tea, green tea, etc., limited to its subsidiaries.

  • Additional Activities: Involves the export of other agricultural and food products, as well as retail of tea-related items.

Historical Background

  • The company traces its origins to a branch of China Tea Corporation (中茶公司) set up in Yunnan in 1950.

  • Pu’er Tea Research Institute (普洱茶研究院) was established in 2005 to promote the development of Pu’er tea.

Intellectual Property

  • The company holds 3 trademarks and 3 patents at the headquarters.

  • Kunming Tea Factory holds 15 patents (as of 2024).

Workforce

  • The company employs 23 staff as of 2024, contributing to its operational capacity.

Investment and External Business

External Investments

  • Control of Enterprises: The company controls 8 enterprises and has invested in 10 other businesses, including Yunnan Jichangeng Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Cha Xixi Food (Yunnan) Co., Ltd.

  • Bidding Projects: Participated in 2 bidding projects as of May 2025.

Legal and Risk Information

Legal Matters

  • Judicial Involvement: As of May 2025, the company is involved in 17 legal cases, including 10 rulings and 7 filing cases.

  • No Credit Losses: There are no records of default or financial misconduct.

Business Development and Milestones

Key Developments

  • 1950: A branch of China Tea Corporation (中茶公司) was established in Yunnan, leading to the development of tea-related activities in the region.

  • 1981: The company officially established the Yunnan Tea Import and Export Company, becoming the main tea business entity of COFCO Group (中粮集团).

  • 2005: Pu’er Tea Research Institute was founded to drive innovation in tea production.

China National Native Produce & Animal By-Products Import & Export Company (CNNP) – Yunnan Tea Company is one of Yunnan’s most influential tea trade enterprises. With a long history dating back to 1950, the company has been pivotal in the development of the Pu’er tea industry. Today, it continues to play an important role in both the domestic and international tea markets, driving innovation and maintaining a commitment to quality tea production.