News: BKL UPDATE 1-Vitamin maker Blackmores' 9-month profit drops 14 pct on slow China demand

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April 16 (Reuters) - Australian vitamin maker Blackmores Ltd (BKL) on Tuesday reported a 14.3 percent fall in net profit for the first nine months, as the company continues to grapple with softening demand from its largest Asian market, China.

Net profit attributable for the nine-months to March 31 fell to A$44.2 million ($31.69 million), compared with A$51.6 million in the same period a year ago.

The vitamin maker said the implementation of the new China e-commerce law during the March quarter resulted in lower 'daigou' sales to Chinese consumers through Australian retailers.

Blackmores relies partly on online sales and informal exports from Chinese visitors shipping goods home from abroad, known as daigou, unlike other Australian exporters that use the direct approach.

The company said it would step up support of daigou to reflect the way Chinese consumers access Blackmores products.

Sydney-based Blackmores has been unable to protect its earnings from a slowdown in the world's No.2 economy, which led the company to issue a surprise profit warning in February, at the heels of which Chief Executive Officer Richard Henfrey stepped down.

The firm, which reaches consumers in 17 markets, said revenue for the period rose 6 percent to A$460.1 million.

($1 = 1.3947 Australian dollars)