China has approved a list of 16 Lithuanian dairy processing companies allowed to export their products to the huge market, says Lithuania's Ambassador to China Ina Marciulionyte, reports LETA/BNS.

Vilkyskiu Pienine, one of Lithuania's largest milk processing companies, was the first one to go public about the clearance, planning to dispatch the first shipment of 20 tons of mozzarella to China shortly.

"Yes, the list was approved today and all of the Lithuanian companies on the list will be able to export their products," told Marciulionyte.

Vilkyskiu Pienine's CEO and owner Gintaras Bertasius has said that first shipment would leave for China soon.

"We have been cleared and can export as of yesterday. The production will travel by sea. To begin with, we will dispatch a single container of just over 20 tons. This will be mozzarella, followed by dry products next year," Bertasius said.

Dalius Trumpa, board chairman of Rokiskio Suris, told that the company's first pilot shipment to China should be dispatched within the next few weeks.

The enormous market is crucial for Lithuania, which lost the highly profitable Russian market in the wake of the food embargo announced by Russia in August of 2014. Lithuanian dairies used to export about 20-40 percent of their output to Russia.

In Lithuania, over 20 companies process milk, while the largest dairies, Pieno Zvaigzdes, Rokiskio Suris, Zemaitijos Pienas, Vilkyskiu Pienin and Marijampoles Pieno Konservai, account for processing of about 94% of the milk.