The free trade agreement signed by Australia and China late last year is "delivering" for Australian businesses, the nation's minister for trade and investment said on Monday.

Steven Ciobo said the government's decision to sign the historic China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, also known as ChAFTA, had helped boost exports to China substantially.

He said the reduction and in some cases abolition of tariffs on agricultural products had led to a big increase in exports to China, something he said was greatly benefiting Australian businesses and would continue to do so for "years to come".