Australia-Drop in lamb exports.

AUSTRALIA.

LAMB EXPORTS DOWN 6%.

Despite the decline in the dollar and the most favorable trading conditions for a long time, lamb exports were down to a figure of 151,560 tons 6% less than in 2007 last year.

Lamb exports to the US fell 17% to 36,854 tons.

However exports to the Middle East were up 17% to 25,370 tons.

China was a good market last year, taking 14,040 tons about the same as 2007.

Exports to the EU fell by 9% to 11,580 tons.

The biggest drop was to the UK, which fell by 22% to 7,280 tons.

The large drop in lamb and sheep numbers was a contributing factor, the fact that Australia has been in drought since 2002, the longest drought on record and for the first 8 months of 2008, the Australian dollar was sailing away at record high levels against the green back