The value of the state’s merchandise exports  for overseas fell by $252 million  to $2.587 billion in the year to the end of February, analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed.

The total  included a $40 million drop from $247 million in January to $207 million in February.

Meanwhile, Australian exports have been booming since the second half of last year, and increased again in February.

Tasmania’s mining and agricultural sectors are easily its biggest goods export earners, and both have had difficulties lately.

Mining has been hurt by the ongoing closure of the Mt Lyell copper mine, although optimism is building about a re-start.

Also, income from agricultural exports has been declining.

In the year to the end of January, state Treasury found, there had been declines in the export value of:

Some of that might have related to movements in the dollar, while part of the salmon industry’s output was redirected towards the Australian market.

Australia’s export income from rural goods dropped by 5 per cent in February; seasonally adjusted

The vital Chinese market held up for Tasmania in February, with export value level with January at $69 million.

Sales to India climbed by $1 million to $13 million, which was one of the best results in recent years.

                          - SEAN FORD