The World - News from July 21, 1986

Soviet oil production rose to 312 million tons (about 2.2 billion barrels) in the first half of 1986, putting it on track for passing the 600-million-ton level this year after two years of falling output, the Communist Party newspaper Pravda reported. The six-month figures show a generally improving economy. Areas targeted in Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev’s modernization drive recorded sharp increases, with the production of industrial robots up 25%, calculators up 16% and metal-cutting tools up 28%. However, there was a 4% drop in foreign trade.