Orders for non-fuel imports placed inAugust rose a seasonally adjusted 14.9 pct, compared with a 1.0
pct rise in July and a 3.1 pct rise in August 1986, according
to a regular monthly restricted survey of private importers,
the Statistics Department said.
    The Department said significant increases were shown in
orders for crude materials (up an unadjusted 83.9 pct in
August), iron, steel and non-ferrous metals (21.1 pct), and
machinery and electrical equipment (19.3 pct).
    Only the food and beverages group showed a significant
decrease with an 18.3 pct fall in August, it said.
    The Statistics Department said mineral fuel orders rose
29.6 pct in August compared with a 28.1 pct fall in July and a
14.9 pct fall in August 1986.
    The monthly survey covers about 40 pct of total merchandise
imports on average.
 REUTER
