New Zealand’s largest exporters of dairy products, kiwifruits and lobsters have expressed confidence in the future of the Chinese market and further business expansion there.

New Zealand’s lobster exporters are also optimistic about post-COVID exports to China, boosted by an upgraded FTA that entered into force last month.

Andrew Harvey, general manager of Fiordland Lobster Company, New Zealand’s largest exporter of live rock lobsters, noted that China’s National Day Golden Week in October is always one of the most important events on the calendar for lobster exports.

“We’re optimistic that it will be again this year, if COVID-19 allows,” Harvey, whose company started lobster exports to China in the 1990s, told Xinhua.

New Zealand’s rock lobster export industry is estimated at around 300 million New Zealand dollars (205 million U.S. dollars) per annum, statistics show.