(ABC) - Grape-growers in the New South Wales Upper Hunter appear to be reaping the benefits of Australia's free trade agreement with Japan, a year after the deal was finalised.

Export sales for fresh table grapes have increased tenfold, while bottled wine sales are up by 11 per cent.

Cattle producers are also seeing positive signs, with chilled beef exports increasing by 24 per cent in the past year.

NSW Nationals Senator John Williams said it was welcome news in the Hunter, amid an ongoing mining downturn.

"A bit of doom and gloom out there as far as coal and iron ore goes, but the agricultural products are looking very good," he said.

"The free trade agreement with Japan 12 months ago has now seen a tremendous increase in exports and agricultural products to Japan.

"Japan is now reducing their tariffs and removing their quotas.

"It's allowing things like beef exports to get up around 20 per cent."

Mr Williams said it was a better than expected result.

"Australia's now supplying more wine to Japan with export sales for a bottle of wine experiencing a growth of 11 per cent," he said.

"Remarkably, sales of bulk wine have almost tripled to more than $5 million to Japan.