Industrial orders rose 14.3% in February compared with February 2007, Italian statistics institute Istat said Friday.
Orders rose 2% between January and February, Istat said.
Domestic orders were 16.2% up in the year to February and foreign orders 10.4% up.
In the first two months of 2008 orders were up 10.7% year-on-year, rising 11% in Italy and 10.2% on foreign markets.
Vehicle orders surged 47.7% in the year, mostly thanks to the shipbuilding sector.
Electrical and precision appliances posted a 38.5% rise, synthetic fibres 17.2% and textile and clothing 16.1%.
The only sector where orders dropped was leather and footwear, down 8% on February 2007.