Australia export agency: Asia growth slowing

SYDNEY
Asian economic growth is slowing and that looks likely to affect Australia's exports to its leading trading partners, said the country's export credit agency in a monthly note from economists published Thursday                               
"If Asia's growth continues to slow, the direct effect on Australian exports could be noticeable as non-Japan Asia accounts for over 50% of Australia's exports," said Dougal Crawford, Senior Economist at the Export Credit & Insurance Corporation, or EFIC, in the agency's August newsletter                               
EFIC's analysis comes amid growing signals that weakening demand from Asia for key commodities such as coal and iron ore is drawing an end to Australia's mining boom. Australia depends on China, its largest trading partner, to sustain its key mining industry