Orders up at Japanese shipbuilders

Japanese shipbuilders received orders for vessels with a combined gross tonnage of 1.09 million tonnes last month, up 47.2% from a year before, the Japan Ship Exporters Association said. Orders rose in August after falling in July for the first time in six months, the association said.

Last month?s orders consists of 24 bulk carriers with a combined gross tonnage of 843,670 tons, five oil tankers with a combined gross tonnage of 260,950 tons, and three general cargo ships with total gross tonnage of 44,100 tons.