"Weifang's Strength" in the Global Agrochemical Landscape--Runfeng Co., Ltd. Builds a New Paradigm for Transnational Industrial Collaboration
"Weifang's Strength" in the Global Agrochemical Landscape
Runfeng Co., Ltd. Builds a New Paradigm for Transnational Industrial Collaboration
I. Case Introduction
Shandong Weifang Runfeng Chemical Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Runfeng Co., Ltd.") stands as a benchmark for the global development of Chinese agrochemical enterprises. Founded in 2005, it has grown into a Shenzhen Stock Exchange-listed company and a top 10 global crop protection multinational corporation within 15 years, relying on its core strategy of "R&D-driven + global layout + full-chain operation." With 10 manufacturing bases and 11 R&D and service platforms at home and abroad, it has built a complete industrial chain covering technical material synthesis, formulation development, and global sales. Its five major product categories are exported to over 100 countries and regions. Through diverse models such as technology export, local manufacturing, and university-enterprise collaboration, Runfeng has not only achieved breakthrough performance with export volumes leading the nation consecutively but also created an international model of "Chinese technology + global service" in the agrochemical industry, enhancing the global recognition of Weifang's industrial brand.
II. Detailed Case Introduction
Since its establishment in 2005, Runfeng Co., Ltd. has focused on the crop protection field, gradually developing a unique global development path. In 2021, the company successfully listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (stock code: 301035), marking the deep integration of capital operation and industrial development. By 2024, the company has formed a manufacturing pattern of "3 countries, 6 regions, 10 bases," covering three core domestic production areas in Weifang (Shandong), Qingdao, and Pingluo (Ningxia), and three overseas strategic支点 in Argentina, Spain, and the United States. The new plant in Argentina's Ezeiza Industrial Park, which started construction in 2024, will become a core hub for high-end formulation production in Latin America upon completion.
In the field of R&D innovation, based on its status as a high-tech enterprise, the company has built an innovation network with 2 domestic R&D centers and multiple overseas technical service stations, focusing on overcoming technical challenges in formulation optimization and technical material synthesis. By focusing on the development of environmentally friendly formulations such as microcapsule suspensions and water-dispersible granules, it has successfully developed over a hundred products suitable for different regions. Among them, glyphosate soluble granules and other flagship products occupy mainstream global markets due to their technical advantages. By 2024, the company has undertaken more than 30 national and provincial-level scientific and technological innovation projects, owned 195 valid patents (including 155 invention patents covering 21 foreign-related protection achievements), and held over 7,000 pesticide export registration certificates, providing core support for global market access.
In terms of market expansion, the company adopts a dual-drive model of "independent registration + local mergers and acquisitions": covering markets in over 100 countries and regions through more than 90 overseas subsidiaries. It quickly acquired local brand channels and production qualifications in the EU market through the acquisition of Spain's Sarabia company, which has become Runfeng's core To C channel radiating Europe. In 2024, the company achieved sales revenue of 13.296 billion yuan, with crop protection product exports continuing to lead the nation. Its sales volume ranks second in the domestic industry, first among private enterprises, and has jumped to tenth place globally, joining the ranks of emerging global crop protection multinational corporations.
III. Implementation Locations
Global Headquarters and Domestic Core Base
No. 03001, Lvjian Road, Binhai Economic and Technological Development Zone, Weifang City, Shandong Province (overall management, R&D hub, and main domestic production base).
Domestic Manufacturing and R&D Network
Production bases: Qingdao Manufacturing Base (Shandong), Pingluo Manufacturing Base (Ningxia); R&D centers: Weifang R&D Center (Shandong), Jinan R&D Team Station (Shandong).
Overseas Manufacturing and Operation Centers
Americas: Ezeiza Industrial Park (Argentina), U.S. Manufacturing Base; Europe: Sarabia Company Production Base (Spain); Global marketing network covering over 100 countries and regions.
IV. Brief Description of Implementation Effects
Industrial Scale and Industry Status Leap
2024 sales revenue reached 13.296 billion yuan, ranking 10th in the global agrochemical industry, with crop protection product exports leading the nation for many consecutive years.
Technology Transformation and Standard Leadership
Participated in formulating 56 national and industry standards, won over 10 provincial and ministerial-level science and technology awards, with market share of environmentally friendly formulations leading globally.
Global Industrial Chain Layout Taking Shape
Overseas base production capacity ratio increased, with response speed improved by 50% at the Argentina base and access cycle shortened by 60% at the Spain base.
Industry-University-Research Collaboration and Talent Cultivation
Jointly trained over 2,000 talents, with a 35% success rate in technology innovation fund project transformation, providing a large number of technical talents for the industry.
V. Solutions and Cooperation Methods
Diversified Cooperation Models
- Global Market Expansion Model: Adopting "local acquisition + brand integration" model in mature markets and "independent registration + technology export" model in emerging markets, achieving market access in over 100 countries through more than 7,000 registration certificates.
- Industry-University-Research Collaboration Model: Establishing a three-dimensional "fund + base + project" cooperation with universities, setting up technology innovation funds to support innovative research, building internship bases to cultivate professional talents, and jointly applying for and tackling key research projects.
- Industrial Chain Integration Model: Building an integrated "technical material-formulation-packaging-logistics" supply chain domestically and adopting "local production + regional distribution" layout overseas to achieve optimal allocation of global resources.
- Policy Coordination Model: Leveraging the investment incentive policies of Weifang Binhai District and the advantages of AEO advanced certification by customs, enjoying "accelerated" export tax rebate services and reducing cross-border operation costs.
VI. Case Image Display
VII. User Feedback Summary
Overseas Partners
Head of Spain's Sarabia company: "Runfeng's technical empowerment has expanded our formulation product line by 3 times, increased market share by 15 percentage points within one year, achieving a 1+1>2 synergy effect."
Argentine Agricultural Association: "The establishment of local factories has provided us with a stable supply of high-end plant protection products, reducing average crop loss rate by 8% with farmer satisfaction reaching 92%."
End-user Farmers
Mario, Brazilian soybean grower: "Runfeng's herbicides last 30% longer than similar products, with 20% less usage, reducing costs by $12 per mu and increasing yields by 5%."
James, American corn grower: "The technical service team can quickly respond to pest problems and provide customized solutions, which is key to our long-term cooperation."
Partner Universities
Yan Mei, Dean of School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan: "Our 10+ years of cooperation with Runfeng has cultivated a group of industry elites. The technology innovation fund has provided a practical platform for student innovation, achieving precise alignment between talent cultivation and industrial needs."
Government and Industry
Weifang Binhai District Management Committee: "Runfeng's global development has provided replicable experience for regional enterprises 'going global,' and its full-chain layout has driven the agglomeration of upstream and downstream industries."
China Pesticide Industry Association: "As a leading export enterprise, Runfeng has broken international monopolies through innovation, enhancing the global discourse power of Chinese agrochemical products."
VIII. Technical Support and Training Services
Technical Support Content
- Core Product Technology: Providing a full range of products in five categories including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, covering environmentally friendly formulations.
- Formulation R&D Technology: Exporting rapid formula screening platform technology, capable of customizing product formulas according to regional pest characteristics.
- Production Process Technology: Promoting continuous and automated synthesis technology for technical materials, with core process compliance rate over 99.5%.
- Environmental Protection Technology: Providing three-waste resource treatment solutions, with production waste recycling rate exceeding 90%.
- Precision Plant Protection Technology: Providing regionalized crop protection solutions based on big data analysis to achieve precise pesticide application.
Training Service Projects
- Overseas Customer Technical Training: Conducting over 15 product application training sessions annually in Argentina, Spain, and other locations.
- University-Enterprise Joint Training Program: Establishing "Runfeng Classes" with the University of Jinan, training over 50 professional talents annually.
- Technical Personnel Advanced Training: Covering 800 person-times annually for internal and partner technical personnel.
- Online Service Platform: Multilingual technical service websites and public accounts, serving over 100,000 person-times cumulatively.
IX. Providing Enterprises/Institutions
Leading Enterprise
Shandong Weifang Runfeng Chemical Co., Ltd. (overall industrial chain coordination, core technology R&D, and global operations)
Research Cooperation Institutions
University of Jinan, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Herbicides Engineering Technology Research Center
Industrial Chain Supporting Enterprises
Over 20 enterprises including technical material suppliers around Weifang (Shandong), Qingdao port logistics enterprises, and Jinan warehousing service companies
Platform Supporting Institutions
Weifang Binhai Economic and Technological Development Zone Management Committee, Shandong Provincial Department of Commerce, Qingdao Customs District of the General Administration of Customs, etc.
