Mexico City, Mexico – China has opened its market to pork from Mexico, giving several companies authorization to export their products to Asia’s largest economy, according to the Mexican government.

Five plants "have been authorized to export pork to China after being inspected by Chinese officials in 2011," the Agriculture, Ranching, Rural Development, Fishing, and Food Secretariat announced. "These pork producing plants are free to begin exporting to China immediately."

The plants that the Chinese have authorized for export to their country are located in Navojoa, Hermosillo, and Ciudad Obregon, all cities in the northern state of Sonora.

The move by China could help Mexico’s pork exports rise about 33 percent to 84,500 tons. Mexico exported 64,230 tons of pork worth $322 million in 2011, the National Food Health, Safety, and Quality Service reported.

Mexico’s pork exports have been going to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Vietnam, and Singapore, among other countries.

China, the world’s most populous country, will now be open to Mexican pork products.