Sydney

AUSTRALIA'S top vitamin maker Blackmores Ltd reported a 41 per cent plunge in full-year profit on Tuesday, as exports to China failed to make up for a precipitous drop in demand from Chinese shoppers in Australia.

The result fell just short of market expectations and the company slashed its final dividend by a third, as efforts to switch its focus away from Chinese shopping agents, or "daigou", and chase direct exports instead, hurt sales.