** Shares of IDP Education IEL.AX fall as much as 16.1% to A$9.980, their lowest since early-January 2019

** The overseas education consultancy co posts ~49% drop in HY adjusted NPAT to A$59.7 million ($37.64 million)

** Says it currently expects to record a decline in volumes in its key business lines in FY25

** Expects size of the international education market to contract; sees its international student volumes declining by 20%–30% in FY25

** Stock worst performer on ASX 200 benchmark .AXJO

** As of last close, stock was down 6.6% YTD

($1 = 1.5860 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru)

((Himanshi.Akhand@thomsonreuters.com;))