A downturn in dairy exports is driving the sector into decline, by hundreds of millions of dollars.

Last month total goods exports fell by $608m compared to the previous February.

Milk powder, butter and cheese led the fall, due to lower prices and a drop in quantities.

More than three quarters of the drop in value was due to falling exports to China.

Annual dairy export values are now 16% lower than for the year ending August 2014.