Continuing a trend that began in January, the number TEUs handled at the port of Hampton Roads rose to 161,535, up 14.2 percent in May from the same month last year, the Virginian-Pilot reported.

For the first five months of the year, the number of TEUs crossing the port increased 12.5 percent from the same period in 2009, growing to 779,969 containers.

"This trend of our cargo getting better is in keeping with what we're seeing around the nation; the cargo is slowly coming back," said Joe Harris, spokesman for the Virginia Port Authority.