Portugal’s agricultural exports to China grew by 25 percent year-on-year to over 20 million euros (US$22.25 million) in 2014, Portuguese news agency Lusa reported.

The figures were provided by the office of Portuguese Secretary of State for Food and Agri-food Research, Nuno Vieira e Brito, who concluded his eight-day visit to China this week.

The growth in agricultural exports was faster than the growth of all Portuguese exports to China last year.

In 2014, total Portuguese exports to China expanded by 18.8 percent year-on-year to US$1.6 billion, data from the Chinese customs showed.

Portuguese agricultural exports to China were up by 80 percent in the first quarter compared to the prior-year period, the data showed.

Mr Vieira e Brito told Lusa that the governments of Portugal and China would sign a number of protocols in the agricultural sector in “late June or early July”. The agreements include one to “speed up” the certification process of Portuguese cereal products and one to protect Portuguese wine brands in the Chinese market.

Earlier this week, he said the Portuguese Government is expected to reach an agreement with China to export pork and pork products to the mainland market by the end of this year.