BERLIN, June 6(Xinhuanet)-- Germany's industrial orders fell 2.9 percent in April from the previous month due to a downturn in foreign demand, the Economics Ministry said on Monday.

Foreign orders dropped 5.2 percent in April, while domestic demand plumped 0.6 percent, the ministry said, noting the month's orders drop came after a 2.1 percent rise in March.

In two-month comparisons to compensate for short-term factors, industrial orders in the March-April period dipped 0.4 percent from the first two months of this year, with foreign orders slipping 1.3 percent and demand at home edging up 0.5 percent, the ministry reported.

Orders for the March-April period witnessed a decrease of 0.5 percent over the same period in 2004 compared on a year-to-year basis, as home demand posted a 2.8 percent plunge and foreign orders saw a 2.1 percent hike, said the ministry. Enditem