A delegation of Brazilian companies in the food and beverage sector signed deals worth US$47.96 million during a visit to China, said the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex).

According to Apex, the total includes deals closed during the visit to China and ones planned for the next 12 months.

The Brazilian delegation, led by Apex and the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, visited China between May 4 and 8.

The group took part in business meetings in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, and displayed products at SIAL China 2015, a trade fair in Shanghai that is dedicated to food and beverages, catering, and hotels and restaurants.

Apex said the volume of business it had signed exceeded the US$18-million target the agency had set ahead of the visit.

China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang begins today, May 18, a three-day visit to Brazil, accompanied by 150 Chinese business people.