A Chinese firm that manufactures fertilizers made from seaweed has set up shop in the City of Industry.

The Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co. Ltd., based in Shandong, China, launched a U.S. division to expand seaweed fertilizer sales across North America, company officials announced Wednesday.

“The North American market will be our key market for the next decade, while our ultimate goal is to become one of the most technologically advanced global companies in this industry,” said Jun Wei Shan, its chief executive, in a statement.

The privately owned firm, which employs between 300 and 500 workers, produces seaweed extract fertilizer mostly for the Chinese market, according to Alibaba.com.

The company, founded in 2000, produces nearly 100 seaweed-derived fertilizer products under the Seawinner brand. It claims to be China’s largest maker of seaweed fertilizers, with two ships that harvest the weed from three production platforms.

Fred Tennant, who was appointed general manager of Seawin Biotech USA Division in City of Industry, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Health business reporter Dana Bartholomew can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @_DanaBart.