This was a sharp acceleration from the 1.8% growth rate in the previous three months.

Speedy has been investing heavily in its plant fleet, and this will mean a sharp acceleration of profits as usage rises.

This marked a sharp acceleration from the previous two quarters and meant that sales growth came to 5.2 per cent during the first nine months of the year.

Revenues rose 20 per cent - a sharp acceleration from the 12 per cent advance reported for the third quarter - and operating profits were ahead by 19 per cent.

The drive to modernize the economy that began in 1978 required a sharp acceleration in commodity flows and greatly improved efficiency in economic transactions.