A timber company expects to run into trouble finding enough workers to harvest wood to meet demand from China when the season peaks over the summer months.
Figures from Statistics New Zealand show that log sales to China have risen fivefold in the past 18 months to a value of $150 million in the last quarter.
Professional Harvesting Systems issued a warning about the lack of available workers last year.
With the increase in demand from China, the Rotorua-based company now says the labour shortage may be worse this year.
It expects strong demand from China will probably continue into next year.