• British exports to the Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain plunged by 16% • The fall comes amid an 11% drop in the value of sterling against the euro Exports to the ailing economies of Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain have suffered steep declines, according to a study published today. The falls underline the challenges facing the government, which hopes to rebalance the UK economy and use exports to drive future growth. The study by Close Brothers, based on public trade data, says that the value of UK exports to the five countries plunged by 16% to £9.2bn between the second quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of this year