Portuguese Federation of Pig Industry Associations Vice-president David Neves has said the Portuguese pork industry and the Chinese authorities are on the point of reaching agreement on allowing Portugal to begin exporting pork to China in the first quarter of next year, Lusa reports.

The Portuguese news agency quotes Mr Neves as saying the agreement will be a strong stimulus of growth in the Portuguese pork industry.

Mr Neves forecast that Portugal will at first export each year over 1,000 tonnes of pork or 15 percent of its annual output, worth about €100 million (US$114.95 million), and later export between 25 to 30 percent of its annual output, worth about €200 million.

Last year the Portuguese pork industry exported about 17.8 percent of its output, worth over €100 million, Lusa says.