THE first wood chip vessel from China arrived in the country last week.
Tropik Wood Industries Limited chief executive officer Faiz Khan confirmed this, saying the vessel arrived at the Lautoka Wharf on Friday morning.
Mr Khan said they had also built a new relationship with China in the hope of supplementing their existing Japanese market.
"Having two export markets for our wood chip spreads our risks and augers well for the long-term future of the pine industry that derives valuable foreign reserves for the economy," Mr Khan said.
"It also provides healthy competition between markets.
"Our agent for supplying wood chip into the China market is Xiamen C&D Pulp and Paper Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Xiamen Inc that is a listed company on the Shanghai stock exchange."