Chai-Na-Ta Announces Results for First Fiscal Quarter.

LANGLEY, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 29, 1996-- CHAI-NA-TA CORP. (NASDAQ: CCCFF TSE: CC) Gerry Gill, President and C.E.O. of Chai-Na-Ta Corp. (the "Company") announces revenues of $5.0 million and net income of $617,000 or fully diluted $0.04 per share for the three month period ending February 29, 1996. This compares with revenue of $4.9 million and net income of $960,000 or fully diluted $0.05 for the same period a year ago. Additional financial details and U.S. equivalent figures are shown at the end of this release.

Current period revenues include $660,000 from the operations of Unique Formulations, Inc. ("Unique") which is now a consolidated subsidiary. Revenues from brokering operations declined from the previous year as some root is being held back from the bulk market for production of value added products later in 1996. Despite somewhat higher revenues, lower margins during the most recent quarter versus the same period last year were partly attributed to the first time consolidation of Unique Formulations, Inc. Unique had a lower gross margin than the group average as a result of start up sales discounts offered to an expanding customer base for initial stocking programs. Expenses also grew as a result of the implementation of new marketing programs in Wuxi, China and from the consolidation of Unique's expenses.

Gill states, "We are pleased with the steady progress we have made so far in launching our new value-added product lines. As these programs mature, we expect them to be key drivers of our revenue and profit growth."

Chai-Na-Ta Corp., through its subsidiaries, is the world leader in the cultivation of ginseng root and a worldwide marketer of ginseng value-added products. -0-

                         CHAI-NA-TA CORP.
               CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
  FOR THE PERIODS ENDED FEBRUARY 29, 1996 AND FEBRUARY 28, 1995
                           (unaudited)

                   Three Months Ended       Three Months Ended
                    Feb 29    Feb 28       Feb 29      Feb 28
                     1996      1995         1996        1995
                      Canadian $000     (X)US $000 Equivalents

Revenues               $4,979    $4,863    $3,648      $3,480
Income before taxes     1,058     1,386       775         992
Net income for
   the period             617       960       452         687
Net earnings
   per share - basic    $0.04     $0.07     $0.03       $0.05
   fully diluted        $0.04     $0.05     $0.03       $0.04
Weighted average shares
   outstanding:
      basic          14,701,038  14,410,434
      fully diluted  17,151,755  15,929,289
US GAAP primary and
   fully diluted EPS    $0.04     $0.05        $0.03       $0.04
US GAAP weighted
  average shares
  outstanding primary/
  fully diluted      16,148,401  15,813,890

(X) US $ Equivalents:
- For period ended February 29, 1996, conversion rate used is
1.3651 (0.732547);
- For period ended February 28, 1995, conversion rate used is
1.3973 (0.715666).

CONTACT: CHAI-NA-TA CORP.

Russell Vatcher, 800/406-7668

604/533-8883 or 604/533-8891 (fax)

or

INVESTOR RELATIONS:

Barretto Pacific Corp.

Landon Barretto or Addy Lang, 206/583-8370

[phone] (Fax)