Woodchip exports contributed US$49 million to Fiji’s economy in 2022, Trade Minister Manoa Kamikamica told Parliament, with the forestry sector accounting for roughly 6.8 percent of the country’s total domestic exports that year. Kamikamica described these figures as “not just encouraging, they are actionable,” and said the Trade Ministry would back value-added forestry exports through trade facilitation, quality control and market access measures, including improved treatment and branding of timber.
The minister highlighted the cottage industry as a promising area for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). He welcomed a reported collaboration between Courts Fiji and community producers to market locally made furniture, and urged that such partnerships be formalised and expanded under the MSME framework to support longevity and growth.
Production data from the Reserve Bank of Fiji show strong year-on-year gains in woodchip output this year, with increases of 192.6 percent in March, 82 percent in April, 70.9 percent in May and 42.9 percent in June — reversing an earlier year-on-year decline reported for a prior June. Those figures point to a production recovery that aligns with the Trade Ministry’s push to expand forestry-based trade.
Industry players have also signalled continued export activity for the remainder of the year. Plans are in place for multiple shipments, with exports targeted to markets including Japan. At the same time, global pine-chip prices have softened compared with last year — industry commentary has suggested prices this year could be roughly 30 percent lower than at the start of the previous year — underscoring price volatility that can disproportionately affect smaller exporters.
To respond to these market dynamics, firms such as Fiji Pine Group are reported to be investing in infrastructure and logistics — including fleet and barging capacity — to secure supply chains from forest to domestic and export markets. The sector has also faced seasonal disruption from extended rains earlier in the year; industry leaders say a forecast of drier conditions later in the year would create an opportunity to sustain higher production.
Analysis and comment
– The ministry’s focus on value addition (treatment, branding, quality control) is a logical strategy to capture greater export revenues and reduce vulnerability to raw-commodity price swings. Processed and branded timber products typically command higher, more stable margins than unprocessed chips.
– Formalising offtake and market arrangements — like the Courts Fiji partnership — into MSME-support programs can help ensure producers access reliable demand and are able to scale production with quality safeguards.
– Price volatility tied to global markets means smaller exporters may benefit from hedging strategies, collective bargaining through cooperatives, or shifting toward higher-value domestic processing to insulate earnings.
Suggestions to add more value to this story on publishing
– Include short profiles or quotes from an MSME furniture maker and a representative from Courts Fiji to illustrate how the partnership works on the ground.
– Add recent export destination details (e.g., confirmed shipments to Japan) and any projected vessel schedules to give readers clarity on trade volume timelines.
– Provide context on domestic processing capacity (sawmills, treatment plants) and any government incentives available for MSMEs to move up the value chain.
Short summary
Trade Minister Manoa Kamikamica says woodchip exports earned US$49 million in 2022 and the forestry sector made up about 6.8 percent of Fiji’s domestic exports. The ministry plans to support value-added forestry exports and formalise MSME market links, while production data show strong year-on-year gains in recent months. Industry is moving to secure supply chains and expand logistics, even as global pine-chip prices and seasonal weather patterns create challenges.
Hopeful note
Rising production, targeted infrastructure investments and active efforts to market community-made furniture signal that Fiji’s forestry sector is not only recovering but moving toward greater resilience — especially if value addition and formal MSME support continue to be prioritised.
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