TROPIK Wood Products Ltd in Bua is expected to export three shipments of pine chips this year, says Tropik Wood Industries Ltd chief executive Faiz Khan.
He said the number of chip shipments would also depend on demand and contractual issues.
He said the first shipment would carry either 21,000 or 14,000 tonnes.
"Weather permitting, the first vessel is planned for early June but it will be half vessel 21,000 tonnes or one-third vessel (14,000 tonnes) so the engineers can commission the operations," Mr Khan said.
"Based on demand and contractual issues, we hope for around three vessels this year and not six," he said.
The Wairiki chipping mill (Tropik Wood Products Ltd) is expected to rake in $30million to $35million of gross earnings per year depending on the market.
Mr Khan said the market demand fluctuated so revenue earnings would vary accordingly.
The Bua mill also has the capacity to produce 1200 tonnes of chips a day within 12 hours compared to the same tonnage produced in 24 hours at the Lautoka mill.
Mr Khan said the Wairiki chip mill was highly efficient.
"The set-up and design of the mill is what enables such high productivity within 12 hours compared to the mill in Drasa," he said.