Mexican tequila production fell sharply last year after a bumper 2008, while exports were practically unchanged from a year earlier, according to the Agriculture Ministry in Mexico..

The ministry said in a weekend press release that tequila production last year was 249 million liters. That was 20% below the record 312 million liters that the tequila regulatory council reported for 2008.

Exports in 2009 were little changed from 2008 at 136.1 million liters, with exports of Mexican tequila made entirely from the agave plant up 3.9% to 37.3 million liters, the ministry said.