A harvester produced by the Case New Holland (CNH) works in a corn field in Shuangcheng District of Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Oct. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Xiaoyu)
HARBIN, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) — At the Case New Holland (CNH) industrial plant in Pingfang District of Harbin, capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, the new 5088 combine harvesters are rolling off the production line at a rapid pace.
Standing over 5 meters tall and stretching 11 meters long, these machines — powered by more than 200 horsepower and composed of over 10,000 components — symbolize the momentum of China’s agricultural modernization.
With 44 workstations at full capacity, a new harvester rolls off the line every 1.5 hours, each bearing the “Made in Harbin” label.
Li Kang, president of CNH China and Mongolia, emphasized the facility’s global importance. He noted that CNH is a world-renowned agricultural machinery manufacturer, with global revenue approaching 20 billion U.S. dollars last year, 71 percent of which came from agricultural machinery. The Harbin plant, established in 2013, is CNH’s largest facility in the Asia-Pacific region.
“We produce tractors from 100 to 500 horsepower, as well as flagship harvesters such as the 4099 and 5088 models,” Li added. The company established its Harbin R&D center over a decade ago, which now serves as CNH’s largest and most technologically advanced research hub in Asia. The center not only designs products tailored to China’s agricultural needs but also exports its innovations worldwide.
In a cornfield in Harbin’s Shuangcheng District, a CR8.90 combine harvester showcased its efficiency at a field day event where 14 of the company’s core products were displayed. Featuring dual axial rotor threshing technology, the machine efficiently processes high feed rates with minimal grain damage and is suitable for multiple crops.
“China’s market for tractors over 200 horsepower continues to expand, while demand for harvesters with feed rates exceeding 10 kg per second is growing steadily,” Li said. “We have strong product offerings in these segments and will continue developing machinery tailored to local demands.”
Luca Mainardi, president of CNH Asia Pacific, emphasized long-term commitment, noting that the Harbin plant — in operation for over a decade — represents their largest industrial investment globally in the past 30 years, with cumulative investment exceeding 250 million U.S. dollars.
He expressed strong confidence in the Chinese market and will leverage local supply chains to meet domestic demand while expanding globally.
As harvesting advances, grain processing in the province enters peak season. At Yihai (Jiamusi) Grain and Oil Industry Co., Ltd., truck driver Liu Xinmin delivers rice through an automated system where facial recognition technology expedites registration and sampling. The smart processing line operates around the clock, transforming paddy into rice through more than 20 steps.
“To meet new grain storage needs, we built two additional warehouses, increasing capacity by 67,000 tonnes,” said Li Zhen, procurement manager of the company. “Orders are strong, and we are operating at full capacity.”
Wu Zhihua, regional head of Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings covering Heilongjiang, Jilin and Inner Mongolia, credited the success to government support. “We’ve established a strong presence in Heilongjiang for over a decade, leveraging local grain resources to enhance deep processing and industrial upgrading.” ■
Agricultural products are pictured at a display hall of Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Xiaoyu)
Workers assembles a harvester at the Case New Holland (CNH) industrial plant in Pingfang District of Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Sun Xiaoyu)
A tractor produced by the Case New Holland (CNH) works in a field in Shuangcheng District of Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Oct. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Xiaoyu)
